Purpose: New dietary proteins are currently introduced to replace traditional animal protein sources. However, not much is known about their bioaccessibility and ability to stimulate muscle protein synthesis compared to the traditional protein sources. We aimed to compare effects of ingesting a protein bolus (0.25 g/kg fat free mass) of either cricket (insect), pea, or whey protein on circulating amino acid levels and activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway in the skeletal muscle at rest and after exercise.
Methods: In a randomized parallel controlled trial, young males (n = 50) performed a one-legged resistance exercise followed by ingestion of one of the three protein sources. Blood samples were collected before and in the following 4 h after exercise. Muscle biopsies were obtained at baseline and after 3 h from the non-exercised and exercised leg.
Results: Analysis of blood serum showed a significantly higher concentration of amino acids after ingestion of whey protein compared to cricket and pea protein. No difference between protein sources in activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway was observed either at rest or after exercise.
Conclusion: Amino acid blood concentration after protein ingestion was higher for whey than pea and cricket protein, whereas activation of mTORC1 signaling pathway at rest and after exercise did not differ between protein sources.
Trial registration number: Clinicaltrials.org ID NCT04633694.
Keywords: Alternative protein sources; Insect protein supplementation; Muscle protein synthesis; NMR metabolomics; Protein quality.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.