Cited by 143Muscle metabolism and nutritionExercise and Physiological ResponsesSports Performance and Training

The influence of carbohydrate–protein co‐ingestion following endurance exercise on myofibrillar and mitochondrial protein synthesis

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Breen, Leigh, Philp, Andrew, Witard, Oliver C., Jackman, Sarah R., Selby, Anna, Smith, Ken, Baar, Keith, Tipton, Kevin D.·2011·The Journal of Physiology

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine mitochondrial and myofibrillar muscle protein synthesis (MPS) when carbohydrate (CHO) or carbohydrate plus protein (C+P) beverages were ingested following prolonged cycling exercise. The intracellular mechanisms thought to regulate MPS were also investigated. In a single-blind, cross-over study, 10 trained cyclists (age 29 ± 6 years, VO2max 66.5 ± 5.1 ml kg(−1) min(−1)) completed two trials in a randomized order. Subjects cycled for 90 min at 77 ± 1% VO2max before ingesting a CHO (25 g of carbohydrate) or C+P (25 g carbohydrate + 10 g whey protein) beverage immediately and 30 min post-exercise. A primed constant infusion of L-[ring-(13)C6]phenylalanine began 1.5 h prior to exercise and continued until 4 h post-exercise. Muscle biopsy samples were obtained to determine myofibrillar and mitochondrial MPS and the phosphorylation of intracellular signalling proteins. Arterialized blood samples were obtained throughout the protocol. Plasma amino acid and urea concentrations increased following ingestion of C+P only. Serum insulin concentration increased more for C+P than CHO. Myofibrillar MPS was ∼35% greater for C+P compared with CHO (0.087 ± 0.007 and 0.057 ± 0.006% h(−1), respectively; P = 0.025). Mitochondrial MPS rates were similar for C+P and CHO (0.082 ± 0.011 and 0.086 ± 0.018% h(−1), respectively). mTOR(Ser2448) phosphorylation was greater for C+P compared with CHO at 4 h post-exercise (P < 0.05). p70S6K(Thr389) phosphorylation increased at 4 h post-exercise for C+P (P < 0.05), whilst eEF2(Thr56) phosphorylation increased by ∼40% at 4 h post-exercise for CHO only (P < 0.01). The present study demonstrates that the ingestion of protein in addition to carbohydrate stimulates an increase in myofibrillar, but not mitochondrial, MPS following prolonged cycling. These data indicate that the increase in myofibrillar MPS for C+P could, potentially, be mediated through p70S6K, downstream of mTOR, which in turn may suppress the rise in eEF2 on translation elongation.

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Crossref · 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.211888

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  • Timing of protein near (±2 h) aerobic and anaerobic exercise training appears to provide greater activation of molecular signalling pathways that regulate myofibrillar and mitochondrial protein synthesis as well as glycogen synthesis.

    “Results from other research groups [56–58, 66] show that timing of protein near (± 2 h) aerobic and anaerobic exercise training appears to provide a greater activation of the molecular signalling pathways that regulate myofibrillar and mitochondrial protein synthesis as well as glycogen synthesis.”
  • Protein-carbohydrate supplementation after strenuous endurance exercise stimulates contractile MPS via similar signaling pathways as resistance exercise.

    “protein-carbohydrate supplementation after strenuous endurance exercise stimulates contractile MPS via similar signaling pathways as resistance exercise [56, 57].”

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Authors
Breen, L., Philp, A., Witard, O. C., Jackman, S. R., Selby, A., Smith, K., Baar, K., & Tipton, K. D.
Affiliations
  • University of Birmingham (GB)
  • University of California, Davis (US)
  • University of Stirling (GB)
  • University of Nottingham (GB)
Venue
The Journal of Physiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2011-08
Volume
589
Issue
16
Pages
4011-4025
ISSN
  • 0022-3751 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7793
OpenAlex
W2140481109
Cited by
143
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 6
FWCI
5.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Journal of Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Stirling Online Research Repository (University of Stirling) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
  • University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
Keywords
muscle protein synthesis, myofibrillar protein synthesis, mitochondrial translation, whey protein, endurance exercise, post-exercise recovery, mTOR phosphorylation, p70S6K, elongation factor 2, insulin, amino acids, urea, trained cyclists
MeSH terms
Adult, Beverages, Dietary Carbohydrates, Dietary Proteins, Humans, Male, Muscle Proteins, Myofibrils, Physical Endurance, Single-Blind Method, Cross-Over Studies, Mitochondrial Proteins, Young Adult

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