Pea Protein Supplementation and Muscle Damage

Study participants will be randomized to the NUTRALYS pea protein supplement, whey protein, or apple juice (parallel group design). Study participants will come to the lab at 7:00 am Monday through Friday in an overnight fasted state and provide a blood sample (maximum of 30 ml or two tablespoons). The blood samples will be analyzed for various measures of muscle damage and inflammation, and extra samples will be stored for additional measurements depending on funding.

After the blood draw, participants will provide a muscle soreness rating. Next, the two protein sources (pea and whey protein), will be consumed at a weight adjusted amount (0.3 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight), and administered under double blind procedures. The amount of apple juice will be adjusted to body weight (1.2 calories per kilogram body weight).

Four muscle function tests will be conducted: vertical jump, bench press, leg-back strength, and anaerobic power through the 30-second Wingate test. These performance tests will be administered before and after the 90-minute eccentric muscle exercise bout, and each of the following four mornings of recovery.

After taking the four performance tests, participants will engage in 90-minutes of eccentric exercise. Immediately following exercise, participants will provide a muscle soreness rating and a blood sample, ingest another protein dose (0.3 g/kg) (or apple juice), and then take the four muscle function tests. Participants will return at 7 am in an overnight fasted state four days in a row after the eccentric exercise bout, and provide muscle soreness ratings and blood samples followed by ingestion of the protein supplements or apple juice. Following ingestion of the supplements, participants will take the four muscle function tests.

Inclusion criteria

• Male, female, 18 to 55 years of age.
• Non-athlete, and not engaged in regular resistance training (less than 3 sessions per week).
• BMI under 30 (non-obese).
• At "low risk" status for cardiovascular disease (as determined with a screening questionnaire).
• Agree to avoid the use of protein and large-dose vitamin/mineral supplements (above 100% of recommended dietary allowances), herbs, and all medications (in particular, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and aspirin) during the week of the project.

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to comply with study requirements.
• Any other concurrent condition which, in the opinion of the primary investigator (PI), would preclude participation in this study or interfere with compliance.
• Current, active history of coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, blood disease, hormonal disease, or metabolic disease.
• History of cancer in the 5 years prior to the screening visit (except skin or cervical cancer that was successfully treated).
• Current use of any type of medication (or unwillingness to stop use of over-the-counter medications two weeks before the start of the study).
• Recent history of musculoskeletal trauma (fracture, strain, sprain, etc.) that has not fully healed prior to baseline testing.
• Females: pregnant or breastfeeding; or body weight under 100 pounds.