Whey proteins promote post prandial positive nitrogen balance in a muscle wasting situation but probably for a too short period of time to translate into muscle sparing
Background and aims: Muscle wasting occurred by an imbalance of muscle protein metabolism. Most of catabolic states are characterized by both an insulin and amino acid resistance which result into a food intake inefficiency to promote positive nitrogen balance during the post prandial period. So far, fast digested proteins (i.e whey) have been shown to be more efficient than casein to promote a stimulation of muscle protein synthesis (PS) in such situations; however, muscle mass is rarely improved. Our hypothesis is that this stimulation occurs only for a short period of time in the fed state, which remains insufficient to induce a significant increase in muscle mass. To address this point, a PS and proteolysis (PRO) kinetic study at the muscle level is required.Methods: Adult mini pigs were catheterized into both the femoral artery and vein and infused with 13C Phe to assess continuously) muscle PS and PRO in the hindlimb by the substrate and tracer arterio-venous difference method (every 30min before (PA) and after food intake). The catabolic state was induced by glucocorticoid treatment (8d); both casein and whey effects on PS and PRO were tested over time for 6.5 h.Results: After glucocorticoids, animals were in negative nitrogen balance at PA and casein intake had no effect on both PS and PRO and animals remained in negative nitrogen balance during the whole postprandial period. With whey, treated animals are able to generate a positive nitrogen balance for 120min after food intake (PS:+40% and PRO:-20%) which decreased thereafter along the postprandial period. Glucocorticoids were associated with insulin resistance (postprandial period: increased insulin/glycaemia). When fed whey, animals still presented hyperinsulinemia but normalized postprandial glycaemia.Conclusions. Whey are more efficient to generate positive muscle nitrogen balance in catabolic states but it remained only for a short period of time which may limit their efficiency on muscle wasting. Nutritional strategies have to be studied to optimize the duration of whey efficiency in the catabolic states. By contrast, whey are interesting to control post prandial hyperglycaemia in muscle protein wasting situations
