Exogenous amino acids stimulate human muscle anabolism without interfering with the response to mixed meal ingestion.
We sought to determine whether ingestion of a between-meal supplement containing 30 g of carbohydrate and 15 g of essential amino acids (CAA) altered the metabolic response to a nutritionally mixed meal in healthy, recreationally active male volunteers. A control group (CON; n = 6, 38 +/- 8 yr, 86 +/- 10 kg, 179 +/- 3 cm) received a liquid mixed meal [protein, 23.4 +/- 1.0 g (essential amino acids, 14.7 +/- 0.7 g); carbohydrate, 126.6 +/- 4.0 g; fat, 30.3 +/- 2.8 g] every 5 h (0830, 1330, 1830). The experimental group (SUP; n = 7, 36 +/- 10 yr, 87 +/- 12 kg, 180 +/- 3 cm) consumed the same meals but, in addition, were given CAA supplements (1100, 1600, 2100). Net phenylalanine balance (NB) and fractional synthetic rate (FSR) were calculated during a 16-h primed constant infusion of L-[ring-2H5]phenylalanine. Ingestion of a combination of CAA supplements and meals resulted in a greater mixed muscle FSR than ingestion of the meals alone (SUP, 0.099 +/- 0.008; CON, 0.076 +/- 0.005%/h; P < 0.05). Both groups experienced an improvement in NB after the morning (SUP, -2.2 +/- 3.3; CON, -1.5 +/- 3.5 nmol x min(-1) x 100 ml leg volume(-1)) and evening meals (SUP, -9.7 +/- 4.3; CON, -6.7 +/- 4.1 nmol x min(-1) x 100 ml leg volume(-1)). NB after CAA ingestion was significantly greater than after the meals, with values of 40.2 +/- 8.5 nmol x min(-1) x 100 ml leg volume(-1). These data indicate that CAA supplementation produces a greater anabolic effect than ingestion of intact protein but does not interfere with the normal metabolic response to a meal.
Paddon-Jones
Douglas
D
Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550, USA. djpaddon@utmb.edu
Sheffield-Moore
Melinda
M
Aarsland
Asle
A
Wolfe
Robert R
RR
Ferrando
Arny A
AA
D000328:Adult; D000601:Amino Acids, Essential / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D000601:Amino Acids, Essential; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins