scholarly journals Comprehensive assessment of post-prandial protein handling by the application of intrinsically labelled protein in vivo in human subjects

Author(s):  
Jorn Trommelen ◽  
Andrew M. Holwerda ◽  
Philippe J. M. Pinckaers ◽  
Luc J. C. van Loon

All human tissues are in a constant state of remodelling, regulated by the balance between tissue protein synthesis and breakdown rates. It has been well-established that protein ingestion stimulates skeletal muscle and whole-body protein synthesis. Stable isotope-labelled amino acid methodologies are commonly applied to assess the various aspects of protein metabolism in vivo in human subjects. However, to achieve a more comprehensive assessment of post-prandial protein handling in vivo in human subjects, intravenous stable isotope-labelled amino acid infusions can be combined with the ingestion of intrinsically labelled protein and the collection of blood and muscle tissue samples. The combined application of ingesting intrinsically labelled protein with continuous intravenous stable isotope-labelled amino acid infusion allows the simultaneous assessment of protein digestion and amino acid absorption kinetics (e.g. release of dietary protein-derived amino acids into the circulation), whole-body protein metabolism (whole-body protein synthesis, breakdown and oxidation rates and net protein balance) and skeletal muscle metabolism (muscle protein fractional synthesis rates and dietary protein-derived amino acid incorporation into muscle protein). The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the various aspects of post-prandial protein handling and metabolism with a focus on insights obtained from studies that have applied intrinsically labelled protein under a variety of conditions in different populations.

Author(s):  
Jorn Trommelen ◽  
Luc J. C. van Loon

All tissues are in a constant state of turnover, with a tightly controlled regulation of protein synthesis and breakdown rates. Due to the relative ease of sampling skeletal muscle tissue, basal muscle protein synthesis rates and the protein synthetic responses to various anabolic stimuli have been well defined in human subjects. In contrast, only limited data are available on tissue protein synthesis rates in other organs. Several organs such as the brain, liver and pancreas, show substantially higher (basal) protein synthesis rates when compared to skeletal muscle tissue. Such data suggest that these tissues may also possess a high level of plasticity. It remains to be determined whether protein synthesis rates in these tissues can be modulated by external stimuli. Whole-body protein synthesis rates are highly responsive to protein intake. As the contribution of muscle protein synthesis rates to whole-body protein synthesis rates is relatively small considering the large amount of muscle mass, this suggests that other organ tissues may also be responsive to (protein) feeding. Whole-body protein synthesis rates in the fasted or fed state can be quantified by measuring plasma amino acid kinetics, although this requires the production of intrinsically labelled protein. Protein intake requirements to maximise whole-body protein synthesis may also be determined by the indicator amino acid oxidation technique, but the technique does not allow the assessment of actual protein synthesis and breakdown rates. Both approaches have several other methodological and inferential limitations that will be discussed in detail in this paper.


2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (1) ◽  
pp. E52-E60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart B. L. Groen ◽  
Peter T. Res ◽  
Bart Pennings ◽  
Elisabeth Hertle ◽  
Joan M. G. Senden ◽  
...  

The loss of skeletal muscle mass with aging has been attributed to an impaired muscle protein synthetic response to food intake. Therefore, nutritional strategies are targeted to modulate postprandial muscle protein accretion in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of protein administration during sleep on in vivo protein digestion and absorption kinetics and subsequent muscle protein synthesis rates in elderly men. Sixteen healthy elderly men were randomly assigned to an experiment during which they were administered a single bolus of intrinsically l-[1-13C]phenylalanine-labeled casein protein (PRO) or a placebo (PLA) during sleep. Continuous infusions with l-[ ring-2H5]phenylalanine and l-[ ring-2H2]tyrosine were applied to assess in vivo dietary protein digestion and absorption kinetics and subsequent muscle protein synthesis rates during sleep. We found that exogenous phenylalanine appearance rates increased following protein administration. The latter stimulated protein synthesis, resulting in a more positive overnight whole body protein balance (0.30 ± 0.1 vs. 11.8 ± 1.0 μmol phenylalanine·kg−1·h−1 in PLA and PRO, respectively; P < 0.05). In agreement, overnight muscle protein fractional synthesis rates were much greater in the PRO experiment (0.045 ± 0.002 vs. 0.029 ± 0.002%/h, respectively; P < 0.05) and showed abundant incorporation of the amino acids ingested via the intrinsically labeled protein (0.058 ± 0.006%/h). This is the first study to show that dietary protein administration during sleep is followed by normal digestion and absorption kinetics, thereby stimulating overnight muscle protein synthesis. Dietary protein administration during sleep stimulates muscle protein synthesis and improves overnight whole body protein balance. These findings may provide a basis for novel interventional strategies to attenuate muscle mass loss.


2020 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler A Churchward-Venne ◽  
Philippe J M Pinckaers ◽  
Joey S J Smeets ◽  
Milan W Betz ◽  
Joan M Senden ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background Protein ingestion increases skeletal muscle protein synthesis rates during recovery from endurance exercise. Objectives We aimed to determine the effect of graded doses of dietary protein co-ingested with carbohydrate on whole-body protein metabolism, and skeletal muscle myofibrillar (MyoPS) and mitochondrial (MitoPS) protein synthesis rates during recovery from endurance exercise. Methods In a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group design, 48 healthy, young, endurance-trained men (mean ± SEM age: 27 ± 1 y) received a primed continuous infusion of l-[ring-2H5]-phenylalanine, l-[ring-3,5-2H2]-tyrosine, and l-[1-13C]-leucine and ingested 45 g carbohydrate with either 0 (0 g PRO), 15 (15 g PRO), 30 (30 g PRO), or 45 (45 g PRO) g intrinsically l-[1-13C]-phenylalanine and l-[1-13C]-leucine labeled milk protein after endurance exercise. Blood and muscle biopsy samples were collected over 360 min of postexercise recovery to assess whole-body protein metabolism and both MyoPS and MitoPS rates. Results Protein intake resulted in ∼70%–74% of the ingested protein-derived phenylalanine appearing in the circulation. Whole-body net protein balance increased dose-dependently after ingestion of 0, 15, 30, or 45 g protein (mean ± SEM: −0.31± 0.16, 5.08 ± 0.21, 10.04 ± 0.30, and 13.49 ± 0.55 μmol phenylalanine · kg−1 · h−1, respectively; P &lt; 0.001). 30 g PRO stimulated a ∼46% increase in MyoPS rates (%/h) compared with 0 g PRO and was sufficient to maximize MyoPS rates after endurance exercise. MitoPS rates were not increased after protein ingestion; however, incorporation of dietary protein–derived l-[1-13C]-phenylalanine into de novo mitochondrial protein increased dose-dependently after ingestion of 15, 30, and 45 g protein at 360 min postexercise (0.018 ± 0.002, 0.034 ± 0.002, and 0.046 ± 0.003 mole percentage excess, respectively; P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions Protein ingested after endurance exercise is efficiently digested and absorbed into the circulation. Whole-body net protein balance and dietary protein–derived amino acid incorporation into mitochondrial protein respond to increasing protein intake in a dose-dependent manner. Ingestion of 30 g protein is sufficient to maximize MyoPS rates during recovery from a single bout of endurance exercise. This trial was registered at trialregister.nl as NTR5111.


1991 ◽  
Vol 261 (1) ◽  
pp. R106-R116
Author(s):  
N. W. Istfan ◽  
P. R. Ling ◽  
G. L. Blackburn ◽  
B. R. Bistrian

To evaluate the accuracy of in vivo estimates of protein synthesis and breakdown, measurements of plasma and tissue leucine kinetics were made in rat tumor tissues at different conditions of growth by use of constant intravenous infusion of [14C]leucine. These measurements were made in Yoshida sarcoma tumors on days 10 and 13 after implantation, with and without tumor necrosis factor (TNF) infusion and on day 10 in Walker-256 carcinosarcoma. Expressed as micromoles of leucine per gram tissue, tumor protein breakdown increased (P less than 0.01) from 0.32 +/- 0.02 to 0.52 +/- 0.09 (SE) mumol/h, with progress of the Yoshida sarcoma tumor between days 10 and 13 after implantation. Similarly, TNF increased tumor proteolysis on day 10 (0.43 +/- 0.03 mumol.h-1.g-1, P less than 0.05 vs. day 10 control) but not on day 13 after implantation of the Yoshida tumor. Estimates of growth derived from the difference between protein synthesis and breakdown rates were not statistically different from those based on actual tumor volume changes in both tumor models. However, estimates of “whole body” protein metabolism (plasma leucine flux) were not affected either by tumor aging or by treatment with TNF. This study shows that in vivo estimates of tissue protein metabolism based on our [14C]leucine constant infusion model closely reflect the growth characteristic of that tissue. A cytotoxic perfusion-independent effect for intravenous TNF on growing tumor tissue is demonstrable as increased protein breakdown. Furthermore, the commonly used concept of whole body protein metabolism, derived solely from tracer dilution in plasma, is an oversimplification.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 885-896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Papet ◽  
Piotr Ostaszewski ◽  
Francoise Glomot ◽  
Christiane Obled ◽  
Magali Faure ◽  
...  

AbstractThe effect of a high dose of 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyrate (HMB, a leucine catabolite) on protein metabolism was investigated in growing male lambs fed on hay and concentrate. Concentrate was supplemented with either Ca(HMB)2 (4g/kg) or Ca(C03)2 in experimental (HMB) and control groups respectively. Both groups consisted of six 2-month old lambs. Three complementary methods to study protein metabolism were carried out consecutively 2·5 months after beginning the dietary treatment: whole body phenylalanine fluxes, postprandial plasma free amino acid time course and fractional rates of protein synthesis in skeletal muscles. Feeding a high dose of HMB led to a significant increase in some plasma free amino acids compared with controls. Total, oxidative and non-oxidative phenylalanine fluxes were not modified by dietary HMB supplementation. Similarly, an acute infusion of HMB, in the control group, did not change these fluxes. In skeletal muscles, fractional rates of protein synthesis were not affected by long-term dietary supplementation with HMB. Taken together our results showed that administration of a high dose of HMB to lambs was able to modify plasma free amino acid pattern without any effect on whole-body protein turnover and skeletal muscle protein synthesis


2019 ◽  
Vol 149 (9) ◽  
pp. 1533-1542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imre W K Kouw ◽  
Jan Willem van Dijk ◽  
Astrid M H Horstman ◽  
Irene Fleur Kramer ◽  
Joy P B Goessens ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background Excess lipid availability has been associated with the development of anabolic resistance. As such, obesity may be accompanied by impairments in muscle protein metabolism. Objective We hypothesized that basal and postprandial muscle protein synthesis rates are lower in obese than in lean men. Methods Twelve obese men [mean ± SEM age: 48 ± 2 y; BMI (in kg/m2): 37.0 ± 1.5; body fat: 32 ± 2%] and 12 age-matched lean controls (age: 43 ± 3 y; BMI: 23.4 ± 0.4; body fat: 21 ± 1%) received primed continuous L-[ring-2H5]-phenylalanine and L-[ring-3,5-2H2]-tyrosine infusions and ingested 25 g intrinsically L-[1-13C]-phenylalanine labeled whey protein. Repeated blood and muscle samples were obtained to assess protein digestion and amino acid absorption kinetics, and basal and postprandial myofibrillar protein synthesis rates. Results Exogenous phenylalanine appearance rates increased after protein ingestion in both groups (P < 0.001), with a total of 53 ± 1% and 53 ± 2% of dietary protein–derived phenylalanine appearing in the circulation over the 5-h postprandial period in lean and obese men, respectively (P = 0.82). After protein ingestion, whole-body protein synthesis and oxidation rates increased to a greater extent in lean men than in the obese (P-interaction < 0.05), resulting in a higher whole-body protein net balance in the lean than in the obese (7.1 ± 0.2 and 4.6 ± 0.4 µmol phenylalanine · h−1 · kg−1, respectively; P-interaction < 0.001). Myofibrillar protein synthesis rates increased from 0.030 ± 0.002 and 0.028 ± 0.003%/h in the postabsorptive period to 0.034 ± 0.002 and 0.035 ± 0.003%.h−1 in the 5-h postprandial period (P = 0.03) in lean and obese men, respectively, with no differences between groups (P-interaction = 0.58). Conclusions Basal, postabsorptive myofibrillar protein synthesis rates do not differ between lean and obese middle-aged men. Postprandial protein handling, including protein digestion and amino acid absorption, and the postprandial muscle protein synthetic response after the ingestion of 25 g whey protein are not impaired in obese men. This trial was registered at www.trialregister.nl as NTR4060.


1996 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 2034-2038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin D. Tipton ◽  
Arny A. Ferrando ◽  
Bradley D. Williams ◽  
Robert R. Wolfe

Tipton, Kevin D., Arny A. Ferrando, Bradley D. Williams, and Robert R. Wolfe. Muscle protein metabolism in female swimmers after a combination of resistance and endurance exercise. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(5): 2034–2038, 1996.—There is little known about the responses of muscle protein metabolism in women to exercise. Furthermore, the effect of adding resistance training to an endurance training regimen on net protein anabolism has not been established in either men or women. The purpose of this study was to quantify the acute effects of combined swimming and resistance training on protein metabolism in female swimmers by the direct measurement of muscle protein synthesis and whole body protein degradation. Seven collegiate female swimmers were each studied on four separate occasions with a primed constant infusion of ring-[13C6]phenylalanine (Phe) to measure the fractional synthetic rate (FSR) of the posterior deltoid and whole body protein breakdown. Measurements were made over a 5-h period at rest and after each of three randomly ordered workouts: 1) 4,600 m of intense interval swimming (SW); 2) a whole body resistance-training workout with no swimming on that day (RW); and 3) swimming and resistance training combined (SR). Whole body protein breakdown was similar for all treatments (0.75 ± 0.04, 0.69 ± 0.03, 0.69 ± 0.02, and 0.71 ± 0.04 μmol ⋅ min−1 ⋅ kg−1for rest, RW, SW, and SR, respectively). The FSR of the posterior deltoid was significantly greater ( P< 0.05) after SR (0.082 ± 0.015%/h) than at rest (0.045 ± 0.006%/h). There was no significant difference in the FSR after RW (0.048 ± 0.004%/h) or SW (0.064 ± 0.008%/h) from rest or from SR. These data indicate that the combination of swimming and resistance exercise stimulates net muscle protein synthesis above resting levels in female swimmers.


2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (1) ◽  
pp. E73-E80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Il-Young Kim ◽  
Scott Schutzler ◽  
Amy Schrader ◽  
Horace J. Spencer ◽  
Gohar Azhar ◽  
...  

We have determined whole body protein kinetics, i.e., protein synthesis (PS), breakdown (PB), and net balance (NB) in human subjects in the fasted state and following ingestion of ∼40 g [moderate protein (MP)], which has been reported to maximize the protein synthetic response or ∼70 g [higher protein (HP)] protein, more representative of the amount of protein in the dinner of an average American diet. Twenty-three healthy young adults who had performed prior resistance exercise (X-MP or X-HP) or time-matched resting (R-MP or R-HP) were studied during a primed continuous infusion of l-[2H5]phenylalanine and l-[2H2]tyrosine. Subjects were randomly assigned into an exercise (X, n = 12) or resting (R, n = 11) group, and each group was studied at the two levels of dietary protein intake in random order. PS, PB, and NB were expressed as increases above the basal, fasting values (mg·kg lean body mass−1·min−1). Exercise did not significantly affect protein kinetics and blood chemistry. Feeding resulted in positive NB at both levels of protein intake: NB was greater in response to the meal containing HP vs. MP ( P < 0.00001). The greater NB with HP was achieved primarily through a greater reduction in PB and to a lesser extent stimulation of protein synthesis (for all, P < 0.0001). HP resulted in greater plasma essential amino acid responses ( P < 0.01) vs. MP, with no differences in insulin and glucose responses. In conclusion, whole body net protein balance improves with greater protein intake above that previously suggested to maximally stimulating muscle protein synthesis because of a simultaneous reduction in protein breakdown.


1989 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 447-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. M. Bennet ◽  
A. A. Connacher ◽  
C. M. Scrimgeour ◽  
K. Smith ◽  
M. J. Rennie

1. Anterior tibial muscle protein synthesis in seven healthy postabsorptive men was determined from increases in muscle protein bound leucine enrichment during a primed continuous infusion of l-[1−13C]leucine. Biopsies were taken 30 min after the beginning of leucine infusion (when plasma 13C enrichment was steady), 240 min later during continued fasting and again after 240 min of infusion of a mixed amino acid solution which increased plasma total amino acid concentrations by 37%. The mean enrichment of 13C in plasma α-ketoisocaproate was used as an index of the enrichment of the precursor pool for leucine metabolism. 2. Anterior tibial muscle mixed protein synthetic rate during fasting was 0.055 (sd 0.008) %/h and this increased by an average of 35% during infusion of mixed amino acid to 0.074 (sd 0.021) %/h (P < 0.05). 3. Whole-body protein breakdown (expressed as the rate of endogenous leucine appearance in plasma) was 121 (sd 8) μmol h−1 kg−1 during fasting and decreased (P < 0.01) by an average of 12% during amino acid infusion. Leucine oxidation was 18 (sd 3) μmol h−1 kg−1 during fasting and increased (P < 0.001) by 89% during amino acid infusion. Whole-body protein synthesis (non-oxidative leucine disappearance) was 104 (sd 6) μmol h−1 kg−1 during fasting and rose by 13% (P < 0.001) during mixed amino acid infusion. 4. 13C enrichment of muscle free leucine was only 61 (sd 19) % of that in plasma α-ketoisocaproate and this increased to 74 (sd 16) % (P < 0.02) during mixed amino acid infusion. 5. The results suggest that increased availability of amino acids reverses whole-body protein balance from negative to positive and a major component of this is the increase in muscle protein synthesis.


1996 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Bequette ◽  
John A. Metcalf ◽  
Diane Wray-Cahen ◽  
F. R. Colette Backwell ◽  
John D. Sutton ◽  
...  

SummaryMammary gland protein metabolism, determined by an arteriovenous difference technique, was monitored in four Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in response to supplemental dietary protein (provided as rumen-protected soyabean meal) during late lactation (weeks 24–30). Each cow was offered two isoenergetic diets composed of grass silage (170 g crude protein/kg dry matter) plus either a low (108 g/kg) or medium (151 g/kg) crude protein concentrate in a single crossover design involving two 21 d periods. On day 21, arteriovenous measurements across the mammary gland were made during a 13 h continuous i.v. infusion of [1-13C]leucine and with frequent (2 hourly) milk sampling during the final 6 h. Although total milk yield was slightly increased (+1 kg/d) by protein supplementation, milk protein yield was not significantly affected. Whole body protein flux (protein synthesis plus oxidation) was not significantly affected by supplementation. Total mammary gland protein synthesis (milk plus non-milk protein) was also not affected by supplementation but on both diets gland synthesis was always greater (by 20–59%) than milk protein output. The fractional oxidation rate of leucine by the mammary gland was significantly increased by protein supplementation (0·047 v. 0·136). Although the enrichment of leucine in secreted milk protein continued to increase, the final value (at 13 h) was 0·94 of the arterial plasma free leucine plateau value (not significantly different), suggesting almost exclusive use of plasma free leucine for milk protein synthesis. Based on current feeding schemes for dairy cattle, a fixed proportion (0·65–0·75) of the additional protein intake (+490 g/d) should have been partitioned into milk protein. Instead, leucine oxidation by the mammary gland was increased. Whether oxidation of other amino acids was also enhanced is unknown but if amino acid oxidation and the ‘additional’ non-milk protein synthesis occurring in the gland are not crucial to milk synthesis, then by reducing such activities improvements in the efficiency of converting absorbed amino acid into milk protein can be achieved.


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