Pea proteins oral supplementation promotes muscle thickness gains during resistance training: a double-blind, randomized, Placebo-controlled clinical trial vs. Whey protein

BACKGROUND: The effects of protein supplementation on muscle thickness and strength seem largely dependent on its composition. The current study aimed at comparing the impact of an oral supplementation with vegetable Pea protein (NUTRALYS®) vs. Whey protein and Placebo on biceps brachii muscle thickness and strength after a 12-week resistance training program. METHODS: One hundred and sixty one males, aged 18 to 35 years were enrolled in the study and underwent 12 weeks of resistance training on upper limb muscles. According to randomization, they were included in the Pea protein (n = 53), Whey protein (n = 54) or Placebo (n = 54) group. All had to take 25 g of the proteins or placebo twice a day during the 12-week training period. Tests were performed on biceps muscles at inclusion (D0), mid (D42) and post training (D84). Muscle thickness was evaluated using ultrasonography, and strength was measured on an isokinetic dynamometer. RESULTS: Results showed a significant time effect for biceps brachii muscle thickness (P < 0.0001). Thickness increased from 24.9 ± 3.8 mm to 26.9 ± 4.1 mm and 27.3 ± 4.4 mm at D0, D42 and D84, respectively, with only a trend toward significant differences between groups (P = 0.09). Performing a sensitivity study on the weakest participants (with regards to strength at inclusion), thickness increases were significantly different between groups (+20.2 ± 12.3%, +15.6 ± 13.5% and +8.6 ± 7.3% for Pea, Whey and Placebo, respectively; P < 0.05). Increases in thickness were significantly greater in the Pea group as compared to Placebo whereas there was no difference between Whey and the two other conditions. Muscle strength also increased with time with no statistical difference between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to an appropriate training, the supplementation with pea protein promoted a greater increase of muscle thickness as compared to Placebo and especially for people starting or returning to a muscular strengthening. Since no difference was obtained between the two protein groups, vegetable pea proteins could be used as an alternative to Whey-based dietary products. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The present trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02128516)

Co-ingestion of NUTRALYS® pea protein and a high-carbohydrate beverage influences the glycaemic, insulinaemic, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) responses: Preliminary results of a randomised controlled trial

Purpose. Plant-based proteins may have the potential to improve glycaemic and gastrointestinal hormone responses to foods and beverages. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two doses of pea protein on postprandial glycaemic, insulinaemic, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) response following a high-carbohydrate beverage intake in healthy individuals. Methods. In a single-blind, randomised, controlled, repeat measure, crossover design trial, thirty-one participants were randomly assigned to ingest 50 g glucose (Control), 50 g glucose with 25 g pea protein (Test 1) and 50 g glucose with 50 g pea protein (Test 2) on three separate days. Capillary blood samples (blood glucose and plasma insulin measurements) and venous blood samples (GIP and GLP-1 concentrations) were taken before each test and at fixed intervals for 180 min. The data were compared using repeated-measures ANOVA or the Friedman test. Results. Glucose incremental Area under the Curve (iAUC180) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) after Test 2 compared with Control (− 53%), after Test 1 compared with Control (− 31%) and after Test 2 compared with Test 1 (−32%). Insulin iAUC 180 was significantly higher (p < 0.001) for Test 1 (+ 28%) and Test 2 (+ 40%) compared with Control and for Test 2 (+ 17%) compared with Test 1 (p = 0.003). GIP and GLP-1 release showed no clear difference between Control and Pea protein drinks. Conclusion. The consumption of pea protein reduced postprandial glycaemia and stimulated insulin release in healthy adults with a dose–response effect, supporting its role in regulating glycaemic and insulinaemic responses

Intrinsic Immunomodulatory Effects of Low-Digestible Carbohydrates Selectively Extend Their Anti-Inflammatory Prebiotic Potentials

The beneficial effects of carbohydrate-derived fibers are mainly attributed to modulation of the microbiota, increased colonic fermentation, and the production of short-chain fatty acids. We studied the direct immune responses to alimentary fibers in in vitro and in vivo models. Firstly, we evaluated the immunomodulation induced by nine different types of low-digestible fibers on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. None of the fibers tested induced cytokine production in baseline conditions. However, only one from all fibers almost completely inhibited the production of anti- and proinflammatory cytokines induced by bacteria. Secondly, the impact of short- (five days) and long-term (three weeks) oral treatments with selected fibers was assessed in the trinitrobenzene-sulfonic acid colitis model in mice. The immunosuppressive fiber significantly reduced levels of inflammatory markers over both treatment periods, whereas a nonimmunomodulatory fiber had no effect. The two fibers did not differ in terms of the observed fermentation products and colonic microbiota after three weeks of treatment, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory action was not related to prebiotic properties. Hence, we observed a direct effect of a specific fiber on the murine immune system. This intrinsic, fiber-dependent immunomodulatory potential may extend prebiotic-mediated protection in inflammatory bowel disease

Explorative Screening of Bioactivities Generated by Plant-Based Proteins after In Vitro Static Gastrointestinal Digestion

The gastrointestinal digestion of food proteins can generate peptides with a wide range of biological activities. In this study, we screened various potential bioactivities generated by plant-based proteins. Whey protein as an animal protein reference, five grades of pea protein, two grades of wheat protein, and potato, fava bean, and oat proteins were submitted to in vitro SGID. They were then tested in vitro for several bioactivities including measures on: (1) energy homeostasis through their ability to modulate intestinal hormone secretion, to inhibit DPP-IV activity, and to interact with opioid receptors; (2) anti-hypertensive properties through their ability to inhibit ACE activity; (3) anti-inflammatory properties in Caco-2 cells; (4) antioxidant properties through their ability to inhibit production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Protein intestinal digestions were able to stimulate intestinal hormone secretion by enteroendocrine cells, to inhibit DPP-IV and ACE activities, to bind opioid receptors, and surprisingly, to decrease production of ROS. Neither pro- nor anti-inflammatory effects have been highlighted and some proteins lost their pro-inflammatory potential after digestion. The best candidates were pea, potato, and fava bean proteins

Effects of Whey and Pea Protein Supplementation on Post-Eccentric Exercise Muscle Damage: A Randomized Trial

This randomized trial compared pea protein, whey protein, and water-only supplementation on muscle damage, inflammation, delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS), and physical fitness test performance during a 5-day period after a 90-min eccentric exercise bout in non-athletic non-obese males (n = 92, ages 18&ndash;55 years). The two protein sources (0.9 g protein/kg divided into three doses/day) were administered under double blind procedures. The eccentric exercise protocol induced significant muscle damage and soreness, and reduced bench press and 30-s Wingate performance. Whey protein supplementation significantly attenuated post-exercise blood levels for biomarkers of muscle damage compared to water-only, with large effect sizes for creatine kinase and myoglobin during the fourth and fifth days of recovery (Cohen&rsquo;s d &gt; 0.80); pea protein versus water supplementation had an intermediate non-significant effect (Cohen&rsquo;s d &lt; 0.50); and no significant differences between whey and pea protein were found. Whey and pea protein compared to water supplementation had no significant effects on post-exercise DOMS and the fitness tests. In conclusion, high intake of whey protein for 5 days after intensive eccentric exercise mitigated the efflux of muscle damage biomarkers, with the intake of pea protein having an intermediate effect

Effet d’une alimentation plus ou moins végétalisée sur la santé cardio-métabolique : un essai clinique randomisé de 2 mois en croisé avec un haut niveau de contrôle nutritionnel

International audienceIntroduction et but de l’étude : Pour promouvoir une alimentation saine et durable, une plus grande végétalisation de notre alimentation est encouragée. Cette transition implique notamment une diminution de la contribution des sources de protéines animales (PA) au profit des sources de protéines végétales (PV), ce qui a été associé à un moindre risque de maladies cardio-métaboliques par les études épidémiologiques. Cependant, on connait mal les mécanismes qui expliquent les bénéfices des PV. Les études d’intervention sont rares, courtes et conduites avec un faible niveau de contrôle nutritionnel. Par une étude d’intervention hautement contrôlée sur le plan nutritionnel, dans une population à risque cardio-métabolique, nous visons à mieux évaluer les effets du niveau de végétalisation de l’apport protéique (PV/PA) sur la santé cardio-métabolique, et à en explorer finement les mécanismes.Matériels et Méthodes : Au cours d’un essai clinique randomisé selon un protocole croisé (NCT04236518), les effets d’un régime prédominant soit en PA (PA/PV 66%/34% des protéines totales (Ptot)), soit en PV (PA/PV 37%/63% Ptot), ont été comparés dans une population d’hommes adultes (25-55 ans) à risque cardio-métabolique : avec un IMC 25-35kg/m², un tour de taille élevé (>94 cm) et au moins un élément supplémentaire de la définition clinique du syndrome métabolique (pression artérielle ou glycémie ou triglycéridémie élevés, ou HDL-cholesterolémie basse). Les 2 régimes, iso-caloriques (~2100 kcal/j) et incluant les principaux groupes d’aliments source de protéines dans différentes proportions, ont été fournis pendant 1 mois sous forme de déjeuners et de dîners « prêts à consommer » au domicile. Les habitudes alimentaires à l’inclusion ont été évaluées par un relevé alimentaire de 3 jours, et les apports en macro et micronutriments pendant l’intervention par des questionnaires quotidiens sur les portions consommées des repas fournis et toute autre prise alimentaire. La composition corporelle a été mesurée en début et fin de période d’intervention par impédancemétrie, ainsi que le poids et le tour de taille tous les 15 jours. Des échantillons de plasma ont été collectés à jeun tous les 15 jours. A la fin de chaque période d‘intervention, un repas de charge hyperlipidique (900kcal, lipides : 80%Energie (E)) visant à évaluer la flexibilité métabolique a été consommé, et du plasma collecté pendant les 6h suivant son ingestion. Le statut basal et la réponse métabolique et inflammatoire au repas de charge ont été évalués par des paramètres de biochimie clinique.Résultats et Analyses statistiques : La fin d’étude a eu lieu en août 2022 et l’analyse des données est encore en cours. La population d’étude est composée à l’inclusion de 19 hommes d’âge moyen (42±7 ans), en surpoids (IMC: 28±2 kg/m² ; tour de taille: 103±6 cm) et avec hypertriglycéridémie (2±1 g/L). Leur alimentation habituelle s’est avérée beaucoup plus proche du régime PA que du régime PV (E: 2171±447 kcal/j ; protéines: 16±2 %E ; PA: 66±7 %Ptot). Les résultats des ingérés réels pendant l’intervention montrent que le protocole a permis d’atteindre l’objectif de manipulation nutritionnelle, avec une répartition des sources protéiques très différente : 64% de PA dans le régime PA et 37% de PA dans le régime PV (p<0.001). En parallèle, les apports en Ptot sont aussi plus élevés dans le régime PA (16 %E vs 13 %E, p<0.001) au détriment des glucides (44 %E vs 46 %E, p<0.01).Conclusion: Les données de consommation alimentaire obtenues ont permis de valider notre protocole expérimental d’un point de vue nutritionnel dans une population à risque cardio-métabolique au moment de l’inclusion. Les effets de ces régimes sur des marqueurs cliniques (composition corporelle, homéostasie glucidique et lipidique, inflammation), métaboliques (métabolomique et fluxomique) et fonctionnels (mesure de la réactivité endothéliale, réponse au repas de charge) sont en cours d’analyse

Compared with Milk Protein, a Wheat and Pea Protein Blend Reduces High-Fat, High-Sucrose Induced Metabolic Dysregulations while Similarly Supporting Tissue Protein Anabolism in Rats

International audienceBackground: Plant proteins (PP) have been associated with better cardiovascular health than animal proteins (AP) in epidemiological studies. However, the underlying metabolic mechanisms remain mostly unknown. Objective: Using a combination of cutting-edge isotopic methods, we aimed at better characterizing the differences in protein and energy metabolisms induced by dietary protein sources (PP vs AP), in a prudent or western dietary context.Methods: Male Wistar rats (n=44, 8 weeks old) were fed for 4.5 months with isoproteic diets differing in their protein isolate sources, either AP (100% milk) or PP (50%:50% pea: wheat), and being normal (NSF) or high (HFS) in sucrose (6 or 15%kcal, respectively) and saturated fat (7 or 20%kcal, respectively). We measured body weight and composition, hepatic enzyme activities and lipid content, and plasma metabolites. In the intestine, liver, adipose tissues and skeletal muscles, we concomitantly assessed the extent of amino acid (AA) trafficking using a 15N natural abundance method, the rates of macronutrient routing to dispensable AA using a 13C natural abundance method, and the metabolic fluxes of protein synthesis (PS) and de novo lipogenesis (DNL) using a 2H labelling method. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and mixed models.Results: At the whole-body level, PP limited HFS-induced insulin resistance (-27% in HOMA-IR between HFS groups, P<0.05). In the liver, PP induced lower lipid content (-17%, P<0.01) and DNL (-24%, P<0.05). In the different tissues studied, PP induced higher AA transamination accompanied by higher routings of dietary carbohydrate and lipid towards dispensable AA synthesis by glycolysis and β-oxidation, resulting in similar tissue PS and protein mass