Improved Strength Recovery and Reduced Fatigue with Suppressed Plasma Myostatin Following Supplementation of a Vicia faba Hydrolysate, in a Healthy Male Population

Abstract

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) due to intense physical exertion can negatively impact contractility and performance. Previously, NPN_1 (PeptiStrong™), a Vicia faba hydrolysate derived from a protein concentrate discovered through artificial intelligence (AI), was preclinically shown to help maintain muscle health, indicating the potential to mediate the effect of DOMS and alter molecular markers of muscle damage to improve recovery and performance. A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 30 healthy male (30-45 years old) volunteers (NCT05159375). Following initial strength testing on day 0, subjects were administered either placebo or NPN_1 (2.4 g/day). On day 14, DOMS was induced using resistance exercise. Strength recovery and fatigue were measured after 48 and 72 h. Biomarker analysis was performed on blood samples collected prior to DOMS induction and 0, 2, 48 and 72 h post-DOMS induction. NPN_1 supplementation significantly improved strength recovery compared to placebo over the 72 h period post-resistance exercise (p = 0.027), measured by peak torque per bodyweight, but not at individual timepoints. Muscle fatigue was significantly reduced over the same 72 h period (p = 0.041), as was myostatin expression (p = 0.006). A concomitant increase in other acute markers regulating muscle protein synthesis, regeneration and myoblast differentiation was also observed. NPN_1 significantly improves strength recovery and restoration, reduces fatigue and positively modulates alterations in markers related to muscle homeostasis.

Keywords: Vicia faba; bioactive peptide; exercise; fatigue; hydrolysate; inflammation; muscle; performance; recovery; strength.

Figure 1

General schematic of trial design.

Figure 2

Recruitment flow chart.

Figure 3

NPN_1 group had significantly increased strength recovery post-strenuous exercise over the hour period post-resistance exercise, but not at individual timepoints. (a) Delta peak torque per bodyweight was calculated per subject from their own baseline and expressed over time (mean ± SEM, RM-ANOVA, p = 0.226). * Indicates NPN-1 is significantly different from baseline strength (t-test, p = 0.025). # Indicates Placebo is significantly different from baseline strength (t-test, p = 0.032). (b) iAUC of strength recovery was calculated over the study duration (mean ± SEM, t-test, p = 0.020).

Figure 4

NPN_1 significantly relieves fatigue and allows a return to performance. (a) Fatigue index was calculated between sets at each strength measurement timepoint (mean ± SEM, RM-ANOVA, p = 0.002) and expressed over time. Significant effects were also observed at individual time points of 48 h. (b) iAUC of fatigue index was calculated over the study duration (mean ± SEM, Mann–Whitney, p = 0.041, * p < 0.05).

Figure 5

NPN_1 supplementation alters plasma myokine concentrations, increasing myokines associated with glycogenesis and protein synthesis, whilst decreasing those associated with negative regulation of protein synthesis. Serum myokine expression following intense exercise is altered with supplementation with NPN_1. Analysed by repeated measures ANOVA. (a) Effect of supplementation on IL-6 (mean ± SEM, RM-ANOVA, treatment effect: p = 0.138). (b) IL-15 (mean ± SEM, RM-ANOVA, treatment effect: p = 0.159, NPN_1 change from baseline, p = 0.045). (c) Fractalkine (mean ± SEM, RM-ANOVA, treatment effect: p = 0.351, NPN_1 change from baseline, p = 0.030, Placebo change from baseline, p = 0.003). (d) Irisin (mean ± SEM, RM-ANOVA, treatment effect: p = 0.096, NPN_1 change from baseline, p = 0.009, Placebo change from baseline, p = 0.031). (e) FGF21 (mean ± SEM, RM-ANOVA, treatment effect: p = 0.0662, Placebo change from baseline, p = 0.027). (f) Myostatin (mean ± SEM, RM-ANOVA, treatment effect: p = 0.006, Placebo change from baseline, p = 0.010). (g) Osteocrin/Musclin (mean ± SEM, RM-ANOVA, treatment effect: p = 0.009). (h) Osteonectin/SPARC (mean ± SEM, RM-ANOVA, treatment effect: p = 0.025). Black line indicates significant treatment effect. * (p < 0.05)/** (p < 0.01) Indicates significant change from baseline values with NPN_1 supplementation following DOMS induction. # (p < 0.05)/## (p < 0.01) Indicates significant change from baseline values with placebo supplementation following DOMS induction.