Healthy SubjectsNCT07420933
Pea vs Whey Protein Supplementation With Resistance Training on Young Adults' Strength, Body Composition, and Metabolic Parameters
A study testing Protein Isolate and Progressive Resistance Exercise Training (PRE) in people with Healthy Subjects, run by Texas Woman's University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the impact of pea protein or whey protein supplementation during a progressive resistance exercise (PRE) regimen on body composition and strength in young adults who are not undergoing regular strength training. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Subjects
- What is being tested?
- Protein Isolate and Progressive Resistance Exercise Training (PRE)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 34 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 3 Feb 2024to 6 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy Adults 18-30y
- BMI between 18.5 - 28 kg/m**2
- The subjects will be excluded if:
- they have a history or current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, or metabolic disorders.
- they use tobacco products
- consume alcohol as defined as >2 drinks per day,
Show all 11Show fewer
- follow a special diet
- reported recent significant body weight changes (>5% prior 3 months)
- report an intolerance or allergy to ingredients in the supplements.
- report regular consumption of other muscle or metabolic stimulating products or drugs such as creatine, other amino acids or protein supplements, growth hormone or derivatives, or ergogenic aids including steroids.
- if they answer "no" to any question on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire which would indicate that the subject cannot safely participate in an exercise program.
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Texas Woman's University Institute of Health Sciences Houston Center
Houston, Texas, 77008
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Pea Protein Supplementation on Muscle Hypertrophy and Metabolic Parameters in Young Adults Following an 8-week Resistance Training Program
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the impact of pea protein or whey protein supplementation during a progressive resistance exercise (PRE) regimen on body composition and strength in young adults who are not undergoing regular strength training. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Do lean body mass changes differ between supplement groups following a progressive resistance exercise PRE training program?
- Does improvements in muscle strength differ between groups following a PRE training program?
- Does glucose, insulin, and essential amino acid appearance and clearance rate differ between groups following a PRE training program? Researchers will compare pea protein supplementation to whey protein supplementation to see if there are any differences in body composition and strength
Read more
Participants will:
- Consume Pea or Whey protein supplement twice daily for 8 weeks
- Participate in a PRE training program twice weekly for approximately 1.5 hours per day
Read the detailed description
Adequate dietary protein intake is essential for maximizing skeletal muscle hypertrophy and strength gains during progressive resistance exercise (PRE) training. Whey protein isolate is commonly used to support these adaptations; however, there is limited clinical evidence comparing plant-based protein supplements with whey protein when protein dose is controlled and combined with structured resistance training. Pea protein isolate represents a sustainable, plant-based alternative, but its effectiveness in promoting muscle accretion, strength, and metabolic responses relative to whey protein isolate has not been fully characterized. Therefore, this study will compare the effects of pea protein isolate and whey protein isolate supplementation on changes in lean body mass, muscle strength, and postprandial metabolic responses in healthy, untrained young adult males. Participants will be randomized in a double-blind, parallel-group design to consume either pea protein isolate or whey protein isolate for 8 weeks while completing a supervised, PRE training program. Lean body mass and strength outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention, and acute postprandial essential amino acid, glucose, and insulin responses will be evaluated following standardized protein ingestion at baseline and post-intervention.
- Conditions
- Healthy Subjects
- Being tested
- Protein Isolate, Progressive Resistance Exercise Training (PRE)
- Keywords
- pea protein isolate, whey protein isolate, progressive resistance exercise, body composition, strength, essential amino acid
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Protein IsolateDietary supplement
Participants in this arm will consume protein isolate (24g/sachet) twice daily for 8 weeks.
Progressive Resistance Exercise Training (PRE)Behavioural
Based on the resistance training guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine, each subject will attend two supervised resistance training sessions weekly for a duration of 8 weeks. A minimum two day rest between PRE sessions will be required. Twelve exercises that targets each major muscle group will be conducted at each exercise session in the order listed below:
- Seated chest press
- Lat pulldown
- Military Press
- Seated row
- Bicep Curl
- Triceps Extension
- Leg Press
- Leg extension
- Leg Curl
- Heel Raise
- Abdominal curls
- Back extension At the first exercise session, each subject's 1-RM will be estimated for the exercises listed above
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Pea Protein | Experimental | Participants in this arm will consume pea protein isolate (24g/sachet) twice daily for 8 weeks while participating in an 8-week PRE program (2, 1.5hr sessions per week) Receives: Dietary Supplement: Protein Isolate; Behavioral: Progressive Resistance Exercise Training (PRE) |
| Whey Protein | Active comparator | Participants in this arm will consume whey protein isolate (24g/sachet) twice daily for 8 weeks while participating in an 8-week PRE program (2, 1.5hr sessions per week) Receives: Dietary Supplement: Protein Isolate; Behavioral: Progressive Resistance Exercise Training (PRE) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Difference in body composition
Differences in lean mass (kg, kg/m^2, and % total mass) and fat mass (kg, and % total mass) assessed using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA; Horizon W, Hologic, Marlborough, MA)
Measured: Baseline and 8 weeks
Difference in muscle strength
Differences in muscle strength assessed by maximal isometric force produced by quadriceps (Nm) using a Biodex System 3 dynamometer, hand grip (kg) using a handgrip dynamometer, 1-Rep Max for chest press (kg), and 1-Rep Max for leg press (kg)
Measured: Baseline and 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes (1)
Nutritional Metabolic Biomarkers
Differences in essential amino acid (Histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine) cMax and iAUC, glucose (cMax and iAUC), and insulin (cMax and iAUC) will be measured from plasma following a protein load (0.3 g/kg body weight of pea- or whey-protein isolate)
Measured: Baseline and 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Feb 2026
- Study start3 Feb 2024
- Primary completion6 Dec 2025
- Study completion6 Dec 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Healthy SubjectsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 34 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Texas Woman's University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Ingredion Incorporated
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07420933
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PProtRCT-FY2019-182
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 19 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 19 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Pea Protein Supplementation on Muscle Hypertrophy and Metabolic Parameters in Young Adults Following an 8-week Resistance Training Program
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07420933
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PProtRCT-FY2019-182
- Conditions
- Healthy Subjects
- Keywords
- pea protein isolate, whey protein isolate, progressive resistance exercise, body composition, strength, essential amino acid
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 34 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Texas Woman's UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Ingredion Incorporated
- Study start
- 3 Feb 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 6 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 6 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 19 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the impact of pea protein or whey protein supplementation during a progressive resistance exercise (PRE) regimen on body composition and strength in young adults who are not undergoing regular strength training. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Do lean body mass changes differ between supplement groups following a progressive resistance exercise PRE training program?
- Does improvements in muscle strength differ between groups following a PRE training program?
- Does glucose, insulin, and essential amino acid appearance and clearance rate differ between groups following a PRE training program? Researchers will compare pea protein supplementation to whey protein supplementation to see if there are any differences in body composition and strength
Participants will:
- Consume Pea or Whey protein supplement twice daily for 8 weeks
- Participate in a PRE training program twice weekly for approximately 1.5 hours per day
Detailed description
Adequate dietary protein intake is essential for maximizing skeletal muscle hypertrophy and strength gains during progressive resistance exercise (PRE) training. Whey protein isolate is commonly used to support these adaptations; however, there is limited clinical evidence comparing plant-based protein supplements with whey protein when protein dose is controlled and combined with structured resistance training. Pea protein isolate represents a sustainable, plant-based alternative, but its effectiveness in promoting muscle accretion, strength, and metabolic responses relative to whey protein isolate has not been fully characterized. Therefore, this study will compare the effects of pea protein isolate and whey protein isolate supplementation on changes in lean body mass, muscle strength, and postprandial metabolic responses in healthy, untrained young adult males. Participants will be randomized in a double-blind, parallel-group design to consume either pea protein isolate or whey protein isolate for 8 weeks while completing a supervised, PRE training program. Lean body mass and strength outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention, and acute postprandial essential amino acid, glucose, and insulin responses will be evaluated following standardized protein ingestion at baseline and post-intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Pea Protein | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Protein Isolate, Behavioral: Progressive Resistance Exercise Training (PRE)Participants in this arm will consume pea protein isolate (24g/sachet) twice daily for 8 weeks while participating in an 8-week PRE program (2, 1.5hr sessions per week) |
| Whey Protein | Active comparator | Dietary Supplement: Protein Isolate, Behavioral: Progressive Resistance Exercise Training (PRE)Participants in this arm will consume whey protein isolate (24g/sachet) twice daily for 8 weeks while participating in an 8-week PRE program (2, 1.5hr sessions per week) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Healthy Adults 18-30y
- BMI between 18.5 - 28 kg/m**2
- they have a history or current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, or metabolic disorders.
- they use tobacco products
- consume alcohol as defined as >2 drinks per day,
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Protein IsolateParticipants in this arm will consume protein isolate (24g/sachet) twice daily for 8 weeks. | Dietary supplement | Pea Protein, Whey Protein |
| Progressive Resistance Exercise Training (PRE)Based on the resistance training guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine, each subject will attend two supervised resistance training sessions weekly for a duration of 8 weeks. A minimum two day rest between PRE sessions will be required. Twelve exercises that targets each major muscle group will be conducted at each exercise session in the order listed below: 1. Seated chest press 2. Lat pulldown 3. Military Press 4. Seated row 5. Bicep Curl 6. Triceps Extension 7. Leg Press 8. Leg extension 9. Leg Curl 10. Heel Raise 11. Abdominal curls 12. Back extension At the first exercise session, each subject's 1-RM will be estimated for the exercises listed above | Behavioural | Pea Protein, Whey Protein |
Primary outcome
Difference in body composition
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Differences in lean mass (kg, kg/m^2, and % total mass) and fat mass (kg, and % total mass) assessed using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA; Horizon W, Hologic, Marlborough, MA)
Difference in muscle strength
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Differences in muscle strength assessed by maximal isometric force produced by quadriceps (Nm) using a Biodex System 3 dynamometer, hand grip (kg) using a handgrip dynamometer, 1-Rep Max for chest press (kg), and 1-Rep Max for leg press (kg)
1 secondary outcome
Nutritional Metabolic Biomarkers
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Protein Isolate and Progressive Resistance Exercise Training (PRE) in people with Healthy Subjects, run by Texas Woman's University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 11 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Difference in body composition (time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Feb 2026.