Potato Protein Ingestion Increases Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates at Rest and during Recovery from Exercise in Humans

INTRODUCTION: Plant-derived proteins have received considerable attention as an alternative to animal based proteins and are now frequently used in both plant-based diets and sports nutrition products. However, little information is available on the anabolic properties of potato-derived protein. This study compares muscle protein synthesis rates following the ingestion of 30 g potato protein versus 30 g milk protein at rest and during recovery from a single bout of resistance exercise in healthy, young males.

METHODS: In a randomized, double blind, parallel-group design, 24 healthy young males (24 ± 4y) received primed continuous L-[ring-13C6]-phenylalanine infusions while ingesting 30 g potato derived protein or 30 g milk protein following a single bout of unilateral resistance exercise. Blood and muscle biopsies were collected for 5 hours following protein ingestion to assess post-prandial plasma amino acid profiles and mixed muscle protein synthesis rates at rest and during recovery from exercise.

RESULTS: Ingestion of both potato and milk protein increased mixed muscle protein synthesis rates when compared to basal post-absorptive values (from 0.020 ± 0.011 to 0.053 ± 0.017 %·h-1 and from 0.021 ± 0.014 to 0.050 ± 0.012 %·h-1, respectively (P < 0.001)), with no differences between treatments (P = 0.54). In the exercised leg, mixed muscle protein synthesis rates increased to 0.069 ± 0.019 and 0.064 ± 0.015 %·h-1 after ingesting potato and milk protein, respectively (P < 0.001), with no differences between treatments (P = 0.52). The muscle protein synthetic response was greater in the exercised compared with the resting leg (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Ingestion of 30 g potato protein concentrate increases muscle protein synthesis rates at rest and during recovery from exercise in healthy, young males. Muscle protein synthesis rates following the ingestion of 30 g potato protein do not differ from rates observed after ingesting an equivalent amount of milk protein.