Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Anabolic Resistance to Protein Intake During Muscle Disuse

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Atrophy, Disuse, Muscle Atrophy, Muscular Disorders, Atrophic, Disuse Atrophy, Disuse Atrophy Muscle of Thigh

In brief

This study will characterize intramuscular molecular mechanisms underlying anabolic resistance to protein ingestion during muscle disuse. Adults (n=12) will be studied using a unilateral leg immobilization model in which one leg will be randomly assigned to immobilization and the contralateral, active leg used as a within-subjects control. Immobilization will be implemented for five days using a rigid knee brace, during which time participants will ambulate using crutches. Integrated ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis will be determined during immobilization in the immobilized and non-immobilized legs using ingested deuterium oxide, salivary and blood sampling, and muscle biopsies. Immediately after immobilization, muscle biopsies will be collected before and 90 mins after consuming 25 g of whey protein from the immobilized and non-immobilized legs to characterize the intramuscular molecular response to protein feeding. Serial blood samples will be collected during that time to characterize the circulating metabolic response to protein ingestion. Knowledge generated from this effort will inform the development of targeted interventions for mitigating anabolic resistance to protein ingestion that develops during periods of muscle disuse.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06228742

Run by

United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

People needed

12

Starts

2024-02-20

Expected to finish

2024-10-01

Last updated by the study team

2024-12-02

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 39. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Men and women aged 18-39 years.
• Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5-30 kg/m2
• Healthy without evidence of chronic illness (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Crohn's disease) or musculoskeletal injury as determined by the USARIEM Office of Medical Oversight (OMSO) or home duty station medical support.
• Routinely participate in aerobic and/or resistance exercise at least 2 days per week.
• Willing to refrain from alcohol, smoking, smokeless nicotine products (includes e-cigarettes, vaping, chewing tobacco), caffeine, and dietary supplements (i.e., vitamin D, probiotics) during the run-in diet, immobilization phase, and final testing day of the study.
• Supervisor approval for federal civilian employees and non-human research volunteer (HRV) active-duty military personnel stationed at Natick Soldier System Center (NSSC).
• Biological females must have normal menstrual cycles between 26-32 days in duration; 5 menstrual cycles within the past 6 months; or on continuous hormonal contraception (i.e., intrauteraine device (IUD) or oral contraceptives without placebo).

You may not qualify if…

• Musculoskeletal injuries that may interfere with the safe use of crutches.
• Personal or family history of thrombosis, or prior diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).
• Metabolic or cardiovascular abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders, neuromuscular disorders, lower-limb amputation, or muscle/bone wasting disorders (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Crohn's disease, etc.).
• Significantly abnormal blood clotting as determined by OMSO or home duty station medical support.
• Allergy to lidocaine (or similar local anesthetic)
• Present condition of alcoholism, anabolic steroid use, or other substance abuse issues as determined by OMSO or home duty station medical support.
• Blood donation within 8-wk of beginning the study.
• Pregnant, trying to become pregnant, and/or breastfeeding (results of urine pregnancy test and self-report for breastfeeding will be obtained before body composition testing).
• Unwilling or unable to consume study diets or foods provided due to personal preference and/or food allergies.
• Unwilling or unable to adhere to study physical restrictions (i.e., no structured physical activity or recreational activity beyond activities of daily living) 24 hours before and during immobilization, and the final testing day.
• Unwilling or unable to keep the knee brace on and walk with crutches during the immobilization phase.

Where it is running

• US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine — Natick, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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