Whey protein ingestion in elderly persons results in greater muscle protein accrual than ingestion of its constituent essential amino acid content
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It is recognized that both whey protein (WY) and essential amino acids (EAA) are stimuli for muscle protein anabolism. The aim of the present study was to determine if the effects of WY ingestion on muscle protein accrual in elderly persons are due solely to its constituent EAA content. Fifteen elderly persons were randomly assigned to ingest a bolus of either 15 g of WY, 6.72 g of EAA, or 7.57 g of nonessential amino acids (NEAA). We used the leg arteriovenous model to measure the leg phenylalanine balance, which is an index of muscle protein accrual. Phenylalanine balance (nmol x min(-1) kg lean leg mass(-1)) during the 3.5 hours after the bolus ingestion improved in the WY (-216 +/- 14 vs -105 +/- 19; P < .05) but not in the EAA (-203 +/- 21 vs -172 +/- 38; P > .05) or NEAA groups (-203 +/- 19 vs -204 +/- 21; P > .05). The insulin response (uIU x mL(-1) 210 min(-1)) during the same period was lower in both the NEAA (48 +/- 40) and EAA (213 +/- 127) when compared to the WY (1073 +/- 229; P < .05). In conclusion, WY ingestion improves skeletal muscle protein accrual through mechanisms that are beyond those attributed to its EAA content. This finding may have practical implications for the formulation of nutritional supplements to enhance muscle anabolism in older individuals.
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In elderly adults completing a resistance training program, protein accrual was greater when a 6.72 g essential amino acid dose was provided as part of an intact protein (15 g whey protein isolate) source than as free amino acids.
“Katsanos et al. [216] administered similar doses of the essential amino acids (6.72 g) as part of an intact protein (15 g of whey protein isolate) source or as free amino acids while completing a resistance training program in elderly adults. Protein accrual was greater when the amino acid dose was provided in an intact source.”
From ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations (2018) · cites this paper as [216]
The Discussion reports greater muscle protein accrual after 15 g of whey protein than after its constituent EAA content (6.72 g). But the Methods describe a single bolus-ingestion study, not a resistance-training program; the participants were not habitually physically active. (LLM, conf=0.89)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAn approximate 10 g dose of EAAs might serve as an optimal dose to maximally stimulate MPS, and intact protein feedings of appropriate amounts to elderly individuals may stimulate greater improvements in leg muscle protein accrual.
“This study, and the results reported by others [149] have led to the suggestion that an approximate 10 g dose of EAAs might serve as an optimal dose to maximally stimulate MPS and that intact protein feedings of appropriate amounts (as opposed to free amino acids) to elderly individuals may stimulate greater improvements in leg muscle protein accrual.”
From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise (2017) · cites this paper as [148]
The Results (§3.4; page unavailable) report greater leg muscle protein accrual after 15 g of whey protein than after its approximately 7 g of constituent EAAs in elderly participants. The Discussion (§4; page unavailable) describes a dose response for EAAs, but neither establishes approximately 10 g as the optimal dose nor shows that it maximally stimulates muscle protein synthesis. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIngestion of 15 g of whey protein appeared to be better than ingestion of its equivalent in essential amino acids (6.72 g), so whey protein appears to have some anabolic benefit beyond its essential amino acid content.
“However, because ingestion of 15 g of whey protein appeared to be better than ingestion of its equivalent in essential amino acids (6.72 g), 196 whey protein does appear to have some anabolic benefit beyond its essential amino acid content.”
From Evidence-Based Recommendations for Optimal Dietary Protein Intake in Older People: A Position Paper From the PROT-AGE Study Group (2013) · cites this paper as [196]
Whey protein ingestion significantly increased leg phenylalanine balance, while EAA and NEAA ingestion exerted no significant impact on leg phenylalanine balance in elderly subjects.
“Whey protein ingestion significantly increased leg phenylalanine balance, an index of muscle protein accrual, while EAA and NEAA ingestion exerted no significant impact on leg phenylalanine balance.”
From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise (2017) · cites this paper as [148]
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- Authors
- Katsanos, C. S., Chinkes, D. L., Paddon-Jones, D., Zhang, X.-J., Aarsland, A., & Wolfe, R. R.
- Affiliations
- Arizona State University (US)
- Shriners Hospitals for Children - Galveston (US)
- The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (US)
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
- Corresponding author
- Katsanos, Christos S.
- Venue
- Nutrition Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-10
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 651-658
- ISSN
- 0271-5317 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2612691
- OpenAlex
- W2156661617
- Cited by
- 159
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 3.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Nutrition Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum
- National Institute on Aging (P30AG02483, P30AG024832)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01AR049038)
- National Center for Research Resources (M01RR000073)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Keywords
- whey protein, essential amino acids, older adults, insulin response, muscle protein anabolism, non-essential amino acids, dietary supplements
- MeSH terms
- Whey Proteins, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Amino Acids, Essential, Digestion, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Milk Proteins, Muscle Proteins, Nutritional Requirements, Phenylalanine, Dietary Supplements
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