Effect of Non-essential Amino Acids on Protein Requirements for Endurance Athletes

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Protein requirements in individuals who participate in endurance-based exercise training have been suggested to be greater than the current recommended dietary allowance (RDA). The biological value of protein depends on its amino acid composition. Essential amino acids are believed to have main role on whole body protein metabolism. However, it remains to be determined what role non-essential amino acids (NEAA) may have in regulating protein metabolism and contributing to the increased protein requirements after endurance exercise. The indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method has clarified the individual amino acid requirement in children, normal healthy adult and clinical populations. However, the IAAO method has never been utilized for assessing the effect of NEAA on protein requirements after endurance exercise. The objective of the current study is to investigate the importance of NEAA for endurance-trained male subjects.

Official Title
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Effect of Non-essential Amino Acids on Protein Requirements for Endurance Athletes Using Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation Method.

Conditions
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Increased Metabolic Requirement, Healthy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: BASE egg protein
* Dietary Supplement: BCAA-enriched egg protein
* Dietary Supplement: small amount of essential amino acids
* Dietary Supplement: large amount of essential amino acids


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: endurance-trained participants who regularly run more than 40 km/week Participants who are categorized at least very good based on a study by Shvartz & Reibold, in which VO2peak is used as an index. (i.e. the participants whose VO2peak is ≥57 ml/kg/min (18-24 y), ≥54 ml/kg/min (25-29 y), ≥52 ml/kg/min (30-34 y), ≥49 ml/kg/min (35-39 y) Ability to complete the 16-km familiarization run in session 2 Exclusion Criteria: Inability to meet health and physical activity guidelines according to the physical activity readiness questionnaire (PAR-Q+) Inability to adhere to any of the protocol guidelines (i.e. alcohol, caffeine consumption) Regular tobacco use Illicit drug use

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: BASE egg protein<br>0.8 g/kg/d of BASE protein provided as crystalline amino acid made after egg protein. | Dietary Supplement: BASE egg protein<br>* 0.8 g/kg/d of protein provided as crystalline amino acid modeled after egg protein<br>|
| Experimental: BCAA-enriched egg protein<br>branched-chain amino acid-enriched egg protein | Dietary Supplement: BCAA-enriched egg protein<br>* BCAA-enriched egg protein provided as crystalline amino acid.<br>|
| Experimental: small amount of essential amino acids<br>small amount of essential amino acids made after egg protein, which is equivalent to the amount of essential amino acids in BASE | Dietary Supplement: small amount of essential amino acids<br>* essential amino acids modeled after egg protein, provided as crystalline amino acid, which is equivalent to the amount of essential amino acid in BASE egg protein<br>|
| Experimental: large amount of essential amino acids<br>large amount of essential amino acids made after egg protein, which is equivalent to the amount of amino acids in BCAA | Dietary Supplement: large amount of essential amino acids<br>* essential amino acids modeled after egg protein, provided as crystalline amino acid, which is equivalent to the amount of amino acid in BCAA-enriched egg protein<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 13CO2 (carbon dioxide) excretion rate (μmol/kg/h) | 8 hours after exercise followed by ingesting 13C-labelled phenylalanine and one of 5 different amount of amino acids intake, 13CO2 excretion rate is determined by multiplying the enrichment of 13CO2 in breath measured by Mass spectrometry and CO2 production rate measured by metabolic cart. | at 8 hours after the end of exercise] | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [13C]phenylalanine oxidation rate (μmol/kg/h) | 8 hours after exercise followed by ingesting 13C-labelled phenylalanine and one of 5 different amount of amino acids intake, 13CO2 excretion rate is determined dividing 13CO2 excretion rate by urinary enrichment of 13C-phenylalanine in breath measured by Mass spectrometry, and CO2 production rate measured by metabolic cart. | at 8 hours after the end of exercise |