Whey Protein Supplementation as a Strategy to Preserve Muscle Mass and Increase Protein Synthesis in the Elderly: A Review of Literature

AbstractThe interest of the supplementation market for the soy protein consumption to optimize physical and metabolic performance after exercise is increasing. However, evidence suggests that the soy protein ingestion has lower anabolic properties when compared with whey protein. The purpose of this systematic review was to compare the effects of whey protein and soy protein supplementation on the muscle functions maintenance after exercise. This review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Articles were searched for in the Pubmed database and included studies comparing the effects of soy protein and whey protein consumption on protein synthesis, lean mass gain and oxidative stress reduction in response to endurance or resistance training. Thirteen trials were included in this review. The results showed that the whey protein consumption is superior to that of soy protein with respect to protein synthesis and lean mass gain, but soy protein showed superior results in reducing oxidative stress. Future research comparing both soy and whey protein are needed to define protein source to be used in nutritional interventions to protein synthesis, lean mass gain and oxidative stress in different populations. Keywords: Soybean Proteins. Milk Proteins. Protein Biosynthesis. Hypertrophy. ResumoO interesse do mercado de suplementação pelo consumo de proteína de soja para otimizar o desempenho físico e metabólico após o exercício está aumentando. No entanto, evidências sugerem que a ingestão da proteína de soja tem propriedades anabólicas mais baixas quando comparada à proteína do soro do leite. O objetivo desta revisão sistemática foi comparar os efeitos da suplementação com whey protein e proteína de soja na manutenção das funções musculares após o exercício. Esta revisão foi realizada usando os Itens de Relatório Preferidos para Revisões Sistemáticas e Meta-Análises (PRISMA). Os artigos foram pesquisados na base de dados Pubmed e incluíram estudos comparando os efeitos da proteína de soja e do consumo de proteínas do soro na síntese protéica, ganho de massa magra e redução do estresse oxidativo em resposta ao treinamento de resistência ou resistência. Treze ensaios foram incluídos nesta revisão. Os resultados mostraram que o consumo de proteína de soro é superior ao da proteína de soja em relação à síntese protéica e ao ganho de massa magra, mas a proteína de soja apresentou resultados superiores na redução do estresse oxidativo. Pesquisas futuras comparando a soja e a proteína do soro do leite são necessárias para definir a fonte protéica a ser usada em intervenções nutricionais para a síntese protéica, ganho de massa magra e estresse oxidativo em diferentes populações. Palavras-chave: Proteínas de Soja. Proteínas do Leite. Biossíntese de Proteínas. Hipertrofia.

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Soluble Whey Protein Hydrolysate Ameliorates Muscle Atrophy Induced by Immobilization via Regulating the PI3K/Akt Pathway in C57BL/6 Mice

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12113362 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 3362

Author(s):

Ji Eun Shin ◽

Seok Jun Park ◽

Seung Il Ahn ◽

Se-Young Choung

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Whey Protein ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Muscle Atrophy ◽

Skeletal Muscle Mass ◽

Protein Hydrolysate ◽

Protein Hydrolysates ◽

Protein Supplementation ◽

Whey Protein Hydrolysates ◽

Whey Protein Hydrolysate

Sarcopenia, a loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is prevalent in older people and associated with functional decline and mortality. Protein supplementation is necessary to maintain skeletal muscle mass and whey protein hydrolysates have the best nutrient quality among food proteins. In the first study, C57BL/6 mice were subjected to immobilization for 1 week to induce muscle atrophy. Then, mice were administered with four different whey protein hydrolysates for 2 weeks with continuous immobilization. Among them, soluble whey protein hydrolysate (WP-S) had the greatest increase in grip strength, muscle weight, and cross-sectional area of muscle fiber than other whey protein hydrolysates. To investigate the molecular mechanism, we conducted another experiment with the same experimental design. WP-S significantly promoted the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and inhibited the PI3K/Akt/forkhead box O (FoxO) pathway. In addition, it increased myosin heavy chain (MyHC) expression in both the soleus and quadriceps and changed MyHC isoform expressions. In conclusion, WP-S attenuated muscle atrophy induced by immobilization by enhancing the net protein content regulating muscle protein synthesis and degradation. Thus, it is a necessary and probable candidate for developing functional food to prevent sarcopenia.

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Aging, exercise, and muscle protein metabolism

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.91551.2008 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 106 (6) ◽

pp. 2040-2048 ◽

Cited By ~ 197

Author(s):

René Koopman ◽

Luc J. C. van Loon

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Protein Synthesis ◽

Food Intake ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Skeletal Muscle Mass ◽

Muscle Protein ◽

Muscle Protein Synthesis ◽

The Elderly ◽

Age Related

Aging is accompanied by a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, leading to the loss of functional capacity and an increased risk of developing chronic metabolic disease. The age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass is attributed to a disruption in the regulation of skeletal muscle protein turnover, resulting in an imbalance between muscle protein synthesis and degradation. As basal (fasting) muscle protein synthesis rates do not seem to differ substantially between the young and elderly, many research groups have started to focus on the muscle protein synthetic response to the main anabolic stimuli, i.e., food intake and physical activity. Recent studies suggest that the muscle protein synthetic response to food intake is blunted in the elderly. The latter is now believed to represent a key factor responsible for the age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass. Physical activity and/or exercise stimulate postexercise muscle protein accretion in both the young and elderly. However, the latter largely depends on the timed administration of amino acids and/or protein before, during, and/or after exercise. Prolonged resistance type exercise training represents an effective therapeutic strategy to augment skeletal muscle mass and improve functional performance in the elderly. The latter shows that the ability of the muscle protein synthetic machinery to respond to anabolic stimuli is preserved up to very old age. Research is warranted to elucidate the interaction between nutrition, exercise, and the skeletal muscle adaptive response. The latter is needed to define more effective strategies that will maximize the therapeutic benefits of lifestyle intervention in the elderly.

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Muscle Protein Metabolism in the Elderly: Influence of Exercise and Nutrition

Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1139/h01-033 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 26 (6) ◽

pp. 588-606 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Kevin D. Tipton

Keyword(s):

Protein Synthesis ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Muscle Protein ◽

Muscle Protein Synthesis ◽

Effective Means ◽

The Elderly ◽

Protein Breakdown ◽

Small Magnitude ◽

Muscle Protein Breakdown ◽

Metabolic Basis

Although the causes of sarcopenia are multi-factorial, at least some, such as poor nutrition and inactivity, may be preventable. Changes in muscle mass must be a result of net muscle protein breakdown over that particular time period. Stable isotope methodology has been used to examine the metabolic basis of muscle loss. Net muscle protein breakdown may occur due to a decrease in the basal level of muscle protein synthesis. However, changes of this type would likely be of small magnitude and undetectable by current methodology. Hormonal mediators may also be important, especially in association with forced inactivity. Net muscle protein breakdown may be also attributed to alterations in the periods of net muscle protein synthesis and breakdown each day. Reduced activity, combined with ineffectual nutrient intake, could lead to decreased net muscle protein balance. Chronic resistance exercise training clearly is an effective means of increasing muscle mass and strength in elderly individuals. Although sometimes limited, acute metabolic studies provide valuable information for maintenance of muscle mass with age. Key words: sarcopenia, inactivity, strength training, muscle protein synthesis, muscle hypertrophy

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The Prevalence of Sarcopenia in the Elderly: How the Consumption of Protein Supplement Interacts in Individuals of a Fortaleza Institution

European Scientific Journal ESJ ◽

10.19044/esj.2018.v14n15p37 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (15) ◽

pp. 37

Author(s):

Caroline Mesquita da Cruz ◽

Ivanira Maria Moreira Holanda ◽

Marco Antonio Pessoa Noronha ◽

Marcos Paulo Mesquita da Cruz ◽

Raimunda Marcia Cristina Alves da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Life Quality ◽

The Elderly ◽

Protein Supplementation ◽

Control Group ◽

Specific Reference ◽

Anthropometric Measures ◽

Before And After ◽

Inducing Factors

Introduction: Sarcopenia is a natural disturb that usually affects older people consisting in strength and muscle mass loss. Sedentary lifestyle and nutritional habits are some inducing factors. Supplementation may contribute to improvements on life quality in elders predisposed to sarcopenia. Objectives: verify the relevance of protein supplementation on life quality of elders predisposed to sarcopenia. Assess the individual's evolution along the study. Methods: protein supplementation application during 45 days on 13 elders, comparing them with 13 elders in control group without supplementation. Anthropometric measurements were performed before and after the 45 days period and evaluated for each participant, as well as their nutrition, individually. Results: We observed a improvement in some anthropometric measures, and a reduction in others, that might be explained by previous pathologies already diagnosed. Muscle mass changes were positive, according with specific reference measures. Some elders reported motor strength improvements, disposition and energy. Physical active participants showed more significant results and sedentary ones. Conclusion: positive outcomes were obtained from protein supplementation in older people, and more correlated studies are still necessary, considering the field's relevancy to longevity and overall life quality.

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The anabolic role of plant-based proteins in response to chronic resistance exercise

REVISTA CIÊNCIAS EM SAÚDE ◽

10.21876/rcshci.v11i3.1135 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 14-23

Author(s):

Carina Sousa Santos ◽

Eudes Souza Oliveira Júnior ◽

Marcus James Lopes de Sá ◽

Elizabethe Adriana Esteves

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Protein Synthesis ◽

Resistance Exercise ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Muscle Protein ◽

Muscle Protein Synthesis ◽

The Elderly ◽

Food Sources ◽

Dietary Adequacy ◽

The Face

Proper maintenance of skeletal muscle mass is essential to prevent sarcopenia and ensure health and quality of life as aging progress. The two determinants of muscle protein synthesis are the increased load on skeletal muscle through resistance exercise and protein intake. For an effective result of maintaining or increasing muscle mass, it is relevant to consider the quantitative and adequate intake of protein, and the dietary source of protein since the plant-based protein has differences in comparison to animals that limit its anabolic capacity. Given the increase in vegetarianism and the elderly population, which consumes fewer food sources of animal protein, the importance of understanding how protein of plant-based protein can sustain muscle protein synthesis in the long term when associated with resistance exercise is justified, as well as the possibilities of dietary adequacy in the face of this demand.

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Whey Protein Supplementation Preserves Postprandial Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis during Short-Term Energy Restriction in Overweight and Obese Adults

Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.3945/jn.114.200832 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 145 (2) ◽

pp. 246-252 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Amy J Hector ◽

George R Marcotte ◽

Tyler A Churchward-Venne ◽

Caoileann H Murphy ◽

Leigh Breen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protein Synthesis ◽

Whey Protein ◽

Myofibrillar Protein ◽

Protein Supplementation ◽

Energy Restriction ◽

Short Term ◽

Obese Adults ◽

Term Energy ◽

Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis

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Supplementing Breakfast with a Vitamin D and Leucine–Enriched Whey Protein Medical Nutrition Drink Enhances Postprandial Muscle Protein Synthesis and Muscle Mass in Healthy Older Men

Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.3945/jn.117.252510 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 147 (12) ◽

pp. 2262-2271 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Audrey Chanet ◽

Sjors Verlaan ◽

Jérôme Salles ◽

Christophe Giraudet ◽

Véronique Patrac ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Protein Synthesis ◽

Whey Protein ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Muscle Protein ◽

Muscle Protein Synthesis ◽

Older Men ◽

Medical Nutrition

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Effects of Whey Protein Supplementation Associated With Resistance Training on Muscular Strength, Hypertrophy, and Muscle Quality in Preconditioned Older Women

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism ◽

10.1123/ijsnem.2017-0253 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 528-535 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Paulo Sugihara Junior ◽

Alex S. Ribeiro ◽

Hellen C.G. Nabuco ◽

Rodrigo R. Fernandes ◽

Crisieli M. Tomeleri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Resistance Training ◽

Older Women ◽

Whey Protein ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Muscular Strength ◽

Skeletal Muscle Mass ◽

Protein Supplementation ◽

Muscle Quality ◽

Total Strength

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of whey protein (WP) supplementation on muscular strength, hypertrophy, and muscular quality in older women preconditioned to resistance training (RT). In a randomized, double-blind, and placebo (PLA)-controlled design, 31 older women (67.4 ± 4.0 years, 62.0 ± 6.9 kg, 155.9 ± 5.7 cm, and 25.5 ± 2.4 kg/m2) received either 35 g of WP (n = 15) or 35 g of PLA (n = 16) over a 12-week study period while performing an RT program three times a week. Dietary intake, one-repetition maximum test, and skeletal muscle mass by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were assessed before and after the intervention period. Both groups showed significant (p < .05) improvements in skeletal muscle mass and total strength, and the WP group realized greater increases (p < .05) in these measures compared with PLA (skeletal muscle mass: WP = +4.8% vs. PLA = +2.3%; strength: WP = +8.7% vs. PLA = +4.9%). Muscular quality increased (p < .05) in both groups (WP = +2.9% vs. PLA = +1.5%) without statistical differences (p > .05) noted between conditions. We conclude that WP supplementation in combination with RT induces higher increases in both strength and hypertrophy in older women preconditioned to RT.

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