Impact of a Supplementation with NUTRALYS® Pea Protein or Whey Proteins on Muscle Mass and Muscular Strength in Trained Volunteers

Authors

• B. Rodriguez - Roquette Frères, Lestrem, France
• N. Babault - Expert Centre for Performance, UFR STATPS Dijon, France
• C. Lefranc-Millot - Roquette Frères, Lestrem, France
• F-A Allaert - Chair of medical evaluation of health claims - ESC Dijon, France
• L. Guérin-Deremaux - Roquette Frères, Lestrem, France 

Context and Objectives

Protein supplementation in sport nutrition is of common use. Today, alternatives to animal protein are a matter of concern from sustainable, ethical, and nutritional perspectives. The vegetable pea protein NUTRALYS® displays a very good digestibility of 97% and a high PDCAAS of 93%(1) and therefore can be a good candidate for nutrition supplementation in sport. The current study aims at comparing the respective impacts of supplementations either with NUTRALYS® pea protein or with whey proteins on muscles.

Methodology

• Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study
• n=52 or 54 /group - 18 to 35 years – occasional or moderate sports activity
• 12-weeks supplementation
• Moderate training 3 times/week
• Isocaloric beverages - twice a day:

o Control group: no protein (maltodextrin)
o NUTRALYS® group: 50g pea protein/day
o Whey group: 50g whey proteins/day

• Measurements at each visit (W0 - W6 - W12):

o Muscular mass: biceps brachii thickness using ultrasonography (Esaote Biomedica)
o Muscular strength: isokinetic ergometer (Biodex)

 

Results

Thanks to a Scheffé’s test performed in a subpopulation with moderate muscular strength, we were able to discriminate between diets which one was responsible for the significant increase observed in the “protein supplemented group” (NUTRALYS® & Whey). In addition to an expected growth of muscle mass linked to the training, NUTRALYS® pea protein had a stronger impact on muscle mass in people with a higher potential of muscular growth. The very good digestibility of NUTRALYS® pea protein(1) but also its richness in arginine(2) as well as its intermediate fast kinetic of digestion(3) might explain these very promising results in sports nutrition.

 

 

Conclusion

The current study was the first to show a beneficial impact of pea proteins on muscle mass gain in a supplementation trial for sport nutrition.
According to these results and combining them with its good digestibility, NUTRALYS® pea protein seems to be a good candidate in the context of combining sustainable vegetable proteins and animal proteins in sport nutrition.

LIST OF REFERENCES

Pea Protein, muscles, sport nutrition 

1) Yang et al., Evaluation of Nutritional Quality of a Novel Pea Protein, Agro Food Industry High Tech, 2012, 23(6): 8-10. 

(2) Miller et al., Benefits of vegetable proteins in athletes and physically active adults: emphasis on Nutralys® pea protein isolate. www.nutraingredients.com [online], October 29, 2010 

(3) Roquette Frères communication 

DISCLAIMER

Scientific data and other information contained or referred to in this article may be proprietary to Roquette Frères who accordingly reserves the right – notwithstanding the publication of this article – to claim the exclusive right of reference to such data and other information pursuant to Article 21 of Regulation (EC) 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims” International Congress of Nutrition 2013 – Granada – September 16-20th