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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Dec 6;11(12):2987.
doi: 10.3390/nu11122987.

Differential Responses of Blood Essential Amino Acid Levels Following Ingestion of High-Quality Plant-Based Protein Blends Compared to Whey Protein-A Double-Blind Randomized, Cross-Over, Clinical Trial

Jessica L Brennan  1 , Maneephan Keerati-U-Rai  1 , Huaixia Yin  1 , Julie Daoust  2 , Emilie Nonnotte  3 , Laurent Quinquis  4 , Thierry St-Denis  5 , Douglas R Bolster  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Differential Responses of Blood Essential Amino Acid Levels Following Ingestion of High-Quality Plant-Based Protein Blends Compared to Whey Protein-A Double-Blind Randomized, Cross-Over, Clinical Trial

Jessica L Brennan et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

This study assessed the bio-equivalence of high-quality, plant-based protein blends versus Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) in healthy, resistance-trained men. The primary endpoint was incremental area under the curve (iAUC) of blood essential Amino Acids (eAAs) 4 hours after consumption of each product. Maximum concentration (Cmax) and time to maximum concentration (Tmax) of blood leucine were secondary outcomes. Subjects (n = 18) consumed three plant-based protein blends and WPI (control). An analysis of Variance model was used to assess for bio-equivalence of total sum of blood eAA concentrations. The total blood eAA iAUC ratios of the three blends were [90% CI]: #1: 0.66 [0.58-0.76]; #2: 0.71 [0.62-0.82]; #3: 0.60 [0.52-0.69], not completely within the pre-defined equivalence range [0.80-1.25], indicative of 30-40% lower iAUC versus WPI. Leucine Cmax of the three blends was not equivalent to WPI, #1: 0.70 [0.67-0.73]; #2: 0.72 [0.68-0.75]; #3: 0.65 [0.62-0.68], indicative of a 28-35% lower response. Leucine Tmax for two blends were similar to WPI (#1: 0.94 [0.73-1.18]; #2: 1.56 [1.28-1.92]; #3: 1.19 [0.95-1.48]). The plant-based protein blends were not bio-equivalent. However, blood leucine kinetic data across the blends approximately doubled from fasting concentrations, whereas blood Tmax data across two blends were similar to WPI. This suggests evidence of rapid hyperleucinemia, which correlates with a protein's anabolic potential.

Keywords: essential amino acids; healthy men; leucine; plant-based protein; protein; whey protein.

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Conflict of interest statement

J.L.B., M.K.-u.-r., E.H.Y., T.S.-D., and D.R.B. are employees of Danone North America; J.D. was a previous employee of Sequel Naturals; L.Q. is an employee of Danone Research; E.N. was a clinical trial coordinator employed by Excelya as a contractor to Danone Research who led the research trials, she declares no conflicts of interest. This study was funded with support from Danone Research and Sequel Naturals. To minimize all potential conflict of interest, this study was double-blinded and conducted at INQUIS Clinical Research (formerly Glycemic Index Labs, Inc.) in Toronto, Canada.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow of participants through the study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Mean concentration of blood eAA over 4 hours following ingestion of each study product; (b) Mean and 95%CI total sum plasma eAA iAUC (nmol/mL) over 4 hours by study product. The area under the curve above baseline vs. time (minutes) was obtained by using the trapezoidal rule.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) Mean blood leucine over 4 hours per time point of each study product; (b) Mean and 95%CI total sum leucine iAUC (nmol/mL) by study product, obtained using the trapezoidal rule.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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