The Effects Potato Protein on Rates of Myofibrillar Muscle Protein Synthesis in Young Women

The loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength with advancing age, collectively termed sarcopenia, is a primary risk factor for disability, frailty, and premature mortality. This is especially true in women, where rapid rates of decline in muscle mass and greater anabolic resistance (blunting of muscle protein synthesis [MPS] despite availability of amino acids) are experienced around the time of menopause2. Previous evidence has demonstrated that resistance exercise is an effective strategy to mitigate muscle loss in older adults, particularly in conjunction with protein supplementation. Typically, animal-based proteins are utilized in research studies; however, they may be inaccessible for older women with limited financial income or simply unattractive to the growing number of women consuming more plant-based diets. While potatoes contain lower amounts of protein compared to animal sources, the high biological value (BV~90-100) of potato protein and high consumption rates, make this food an ideal source of protein in North American diets. In fact, potatoes contribute roughly 3%-3.5% of the total daily protein intake for adults and plant-based proteins contribute 60% of dietary protein worldwide. When compared to animal sourced protein, potatoes are readily available and are a highly sustainable food source. Consequently, potatoes represent an accessible, cost-effective protein source for the growing aging population. However, the efficacy of a diet rich in potato protein to stimulate an increase in integrated rates of MPS, which are the basis for muscle growth, in women has not been investigated. Therefore, while the eventual target consumer will be all women, young and old, firstly we will demonstrate the effectiveness of potato based protein to stimulate MPS in young women.

Twenty-four healthy young women (18-29 yrs) will be recruited to participate in this parallel group, double blind, randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomized to either supplementary isolated potato protein and unilateral resistance training, or unilateral resistance training alone as placebo (with usual dietary practices, protein clamped at 0.8 g/kg/day). Participants will engage in unilateral resistance training 3 times per wk for 2 wk. To assess the anabolic properties of potato protein, the women in the potato protein group will ingest 25 g of isolated potato protein 2 times a day. On the day of resistance exercise one serving will be provided immediately after the cessation of training. The placebo group will follow the same supplement schedule, but with a placebo. Integrated rates of myofibrillar MPS will be assessed with the precursor-product method using deuterium labeled water (70% D2O).