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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05178732

The Effect of Menstrual Cycle Phase and Protein Dose on Muscle Protein Synthesis

Adaptation to resistance exercise requires maximal rates of muscle protein synthesis, which can be achieved with post-exercise ingestion of ~20g of protein. These recommendations are based on studies in males and responses in females may vary.

Muscle recovery is related to the ability to build new muscle protein from amino acids (muscle protein synthesis). This response is thought to be impacted in females by hormones that fluctuate across different phases of the menstrual cycle. However, the effect of menstrual cycle phase on muscle protein synthesis is not known.

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Key information

Conditions

Muscle Protein Synthesis

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Exeter

Exeter, Devon, EX1 2LT, United Kingdom

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • BMI between 18 and 30
  • Recreationally active
  • Regular menstrual cycle

Exclusion criteria

  • Smoking
  • Metabolic disease
  • Any motor disorder
  • Use of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, during the study.
  • Pomegranate, milk or lidocaine allergy
  • Taken contraceptives in the past 3 months
  • Irregular menstrual cycle (less than 9 cycles per year and a length not between 21-35 days)
  • Post-menopausal women
  • Pregnancy and lactation

Treatment and study plan

Dose of protein

Dietary Supplement

One of three protein doses provided

Menstrual cycle phase

Other

Different phase of the menstrual cycle

Primary outcomes

  1. Muscle protein synthesis

    Time frame: 7.5 hours

    The rate of synthesis of new muscle protein

Secondary outcomes

  1. Plasma amino acid kinetics

    Time frame: 7.5 hours

    The appearance of amino acids in the circulation.

  2. Serum insulin concentrations

    Time frame: 7.5 hours

    Basal and postprandial concentrations of serum insulin

  3. Blood flow

    Time frame: 7.5 hours

    Basal and postprandial blood flow using ultrasound

  4. Sex hormone concentrations

    Time frame: 5 minutes

    Serum oestrogen and progesterone

  5. Gene expression

    Time frame: 7.5 hours

    Gene expression of muscle samples using RNA extraction

  6. Blood glucose

    Time frame: 7.5 hours

    Basal and postprandial concentrations of blood glucose

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Exeter

Other

Collaborators

  • P.volve

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Menstrual Cycle Phase and Protein Dose on Muscle Protein Synthesis in Response to Exercise in Young Females

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Jan 5, 2022
Registry last updated
Jul 24, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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