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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04156386

Vegan or Animal Protein Ingestion on the Recovery of Muscle Function Following Exercise

This study will assess the effect of daily post-exercise vegan (pea) and animal (whey) protein ingestion compared to placebo over 7 days of recovery from strenuous exercise. Muscle strength and soreness will be measured daily, and mechanisms underpinning recovery will be investigated in muscle biopsies taken 3, 24 and 48 hours after exercise.

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Key information

Conditions

Muscle Recovery

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Exeter

Exeter, EX1 1TX, United Kingdom

About this study

Strenuous exercise can cause muscle soreness and reduced muscle strength. It is widely acknowledged that nutritional supplements derived from animal protein sources, including whey from milk, aids recovery when taken immediately after strenuous exercise. However, the effect of vegan protein supplements are less understood, and how they affect recovery of strength and soreness is not known. This is an important area of research due to the increasing demand for plant-based protein.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Recreationally active
  • 18-40 years of age

Exclusion criteria

  • Regular and structured involvement in resistance training
  • Inactive participants
  • Habitual dietary protein intake <0.8g/kg bw/day and >2.0g/kg bw/day
  • Use of nutritional supplements
  • Any diagnosed metabolic conditions (diabetes), cardiovascular disease or hypertension
  • Current musculoskeletal injury
  • Use of anti-inflammatory medicines
  • Individuals with non -removable metallic implants (including heart pacemaker, cochlea implants, medication pumps, surgical clips, plates or screws) or claustrophobia
  • Individuals with an allergy to egg, fish, wheat or soy ingredients as the product is manufactured in a facility that contains these ingredients

Treatment and study plan

Recovery animal (20g whey) protein supplement

Dietary Supplement

Animal protein supplement consumed post exercise to aid recovery of muscle function following strenuous exercise.

Recover vegan (26g pea) protein supplement

Dietary Supplement

Vegan protein supplement consumed post exercise to aid recovery of muscle function following strenuous exercise.

Placebo (32g maltodextrin)

Dietary Supplement

Placebo consumed post exercise to aid recovery of muscle function following strenuous exercise.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in isokinetic work (W30) performed before and every 24 h after performing 300 maximal eccentric quadriceps contractions.

    Time frame: Once per 24 hour period for 7 days

    The recovery of skeletal muscle isokinetic force production following eccentric exercise using an isokinetic dynamometer

Secondary outcomes

  1. Perceived quadriceps muscle soreness

    Time frame: Once per 24 hour period for 7 days

    Soreness will be assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) to determine whether the protein supplement can reduce muscle soreness following eccentric exercise. This scale will represent a 100mm line with no pain and worst pain anchored at either end of the scale.

  2. Muscle swelling

    Time frame: Once per 24 hour period for 3 days

    Determine whether the protein supplement can reduce muscle swelling following eccentric exercise assessed using MRI

  3. Rate of protein incorporation into the muscle

    Time frame: Once per 24 hour period for 3 days

    Determine whether the strenuous exercise and a protein supplement can upregulate protein synthesis following strenuous exercise assessed by muscle biopsies

  4. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity before and every 24 h after performing 300 maximal eccentric quadriceps contractions.

    Time frame: Once per 24 hour period for 7 days

    Damage and inflammatory bio markers following strenuous exercise assessed by blood sample

  5. Change in flow mediated dilation

    Time frame: Once hourly post exercise for 3 hours

    Determine whether the protein polyphenol supplement can impact vascular function following eccentric exercise

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Exeter

Other

Collaborators

  • Beachbody

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Vegan or Animal Protein Ingestion on the Recovery of Skeletal Muscle Function Following Strenuous Exercise

Acronym: VAMPIRE

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Nov 7, 2019
Registry last updated
Mar 22, 2023

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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