Cited by 973Muscle metabolism and nutritionSports Performance and TrainingMuscle Physiology and Disorders

Ingested protein dose response of muscle and albumin protein synthesis after resistance exercise in young men

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Moore, Daniel R, Robinson, Meghann J, Fry, Jessica L, Tang, Jason E, Glover, Elisa I, Wilkinson, Sarah B, Prior, Todd, Tarnopolsky, Mark A +1 more·2009·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Abstract

Background The anabolic effect of resistance exercise is enhanced by the provision of dietary protein.Objectives We aimed to determine the ingested protein dose response of muscle (MPS) and albumin protein synthesis (APS) after resistance exercise. In addition, we measured the phosphorylation of candidate signaling proteins thought to regulate acute changes in MPS.Design Six healthy young men reported to the laboratory on 5 separate occasions to perform an intense bout of leg-based resistance exercise. After exercise, participants consumed, in a randomized order, drinks containing 0, 5, 10, 20, or 40 g whole egg protein. Protein synthesis and whole-body leucine oxidation were measured over 4 h after exercise by a primed constant infusion of [1-(13)C]leucine.Results MPS displayed a dose response to dietary protein ingestion and was maximally stimulated at 20 g. The phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase (Thr(389)), ribosomal protein S6 (Ser(240/244)), and the epsilon-subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2B (Ser(539)) were unaffected by protein ingestion. APS increased in a dose-dependent manner and also reached a plateau at 20 g ingested protein. Leucine oxidation was significantly increased after 20 and 40 g protein were ingested.Conclusions Ingestion of 20 g intact protein is sufficient to maximally stimulate MPS and APS after resistance exercise. Phosphorylation of candidate signaling proteins was not enhanced with any dose of protein ingested, which suggested that the stimulation of MPS after resistance exercise may be related to amino acid availability. Finally, dietary protein consumed after exercise in excess of the rate at which it can be incorporated into tissue protein stimulates irreversible oxidation.

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Crossref · 10.3945/ajcn.2008.26401

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  • The optimal dose of protein for post-exercise recovery is 20-40 g of high-quality protein consumed after exercise, which maximizes MPS rates for several hours (3-4 h), with the exact dose dependent on muscle mass involved during exercise.

    “research suggesting that 20–40 g of high-quality protein consumed after exercise maximizes MPS rates for several hours (i.e., 3–4 h), the exact dose dependent on muscle mass involved during exercise [56–58]”

    From Nutritional Strategies to Improve Post-exercise Recovery and Subsequent Exercise Performance: A Narrative Review (2025) · cites this paper as [58]

    The Abstract and Discussion report that 20 g of high-quality protein maximized muscle protein synthesis after leg-based resistance exercise in six young men; the study measured synthesis over four hours. They do not establish that the optimal dose varies with the muscle mass exercised, and the Results found no greater response to 40 g than to 20 g. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Protein consumption directly after resistance exercise is an effective way to acutely promote a positive muscle protein balance.

    “It is widely reported that protein consumption directly after resistance exercise is an effective way to acutely promote a positive muscle protein balance [31, 55, 67], which if repeated over time should translate into a net gain or hypertrophy of muscle [68].”

    From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise (2017) · cites this paper as [31]

    The Discussion reports that protein ingested immediately after resistance exercise stimulated muscle protein synthesis, supporting an acute anabolic effect. The Calculations and results describe synthesis rates, not muscle protein breakdown or net balance, so the paper does not establish that muscle protein balance became positive. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • A protein dose of 20-40 g of protein (10-12 g of EAAs, 1-3 g of leucine) stimulates MPS, which can help to promote a positive nitrogen balance.

    “A protein dose of 20–40 g of protein (10–12 g of EAAs, 1–3 g of leucine) stimulates MPS, which can help to promote a positive nitrogen balance.”

    From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise (2017) · cites this paper as [31]

    The Discussion reports that muscle protein synthesis after resistance exercise reached maximal stimulation at 20 g of high-quality protein; the study also tested 40 g. It gives approximately 8.6 g of EAAs for the 20-g dose, not the claimed 10–12 g, and the Infusion protocol lists leucine content rather than establishing the stated 1–3-g range for both doses. The paper does not report that these doses promote a positive nitrogen balance. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Muscle and albumin protein synthesis was optimized at approximately 20 g of egg protein at rest.

    “Moore [31] found that muscle and albumin protein synthesis was optimized at approximately 20 g of egg protein at rest.”

    From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise (2017) · cites this paper as [31]

    The Results report that mixed-muscle and plasma albumin protein synthesis plateaued at 20 g of dietary protein. However, the Study design states that participants consumed the egg protein after intense leg resistance exercise, not at rest. The provided passages do not give page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The response of protein synthesis to leucine may occur in a dose-dependent fashion, plateauing at approximately two g at rest, and increasing up to 3.5 g when ingestion occurs after completion of a 60-min bout of moderate intensity cycling.

    “this response may occur in a dose-dependent fashion, plateauing at approximately two g at rest [31, 157], and increasing up to 3.5 g when ingestion occurs after completion of a 60-min bout of moderate intensity cycling [159].”

    From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise (2017) · cites this paper as [31]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) reports a dose-dependent increase in protein synthesis after resistance exercise, plateauing at 20 g of ingested protein. The Study design describes resistance exercise and egg-protein drinks, not a 60-minute cycling bout or 3.5 g of leucine. The approximately 2 g at-rest claim is attached to other citations, not this source. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Authors
Moore, D. R., Robinson, M. J., Fry, J. L., Tang, J. E., Glover, E. I., Wilkinson, S. B., Prior, T., Tarnopolsky, M. A., & Phillips, S. M.
Affiliations
McMaster University (CA)
Corresponding author
Phillips, Stuart M
Venue
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-01
Volume
89
Issue
1
Pages
161-168
ISSN
0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2146458354
Cited by
973
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 55 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 64 · 2020: 60 · 2019: 63 · 2018: 64 · 2017: 66 · 2016: 70 · 2015: 65 · 2014: 60 · 2013: 72 · 2012: 61
FWCI
14.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Loughborough University Institutional Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Loughborough University Research Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • McMaster University
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
Keywords
muscle protein synthesis, resistance training, whole egg protein, leucine oxidation, S6K, ribosomal protein S6, eIF2B, amino acid availability
MeSH terms
Carbon Isotopes, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Humans, Leucine, Male, Muscle Proteins, Oxidation-Reduction, Phosphorylation, Serum Albumin, Weight Lifting, Egg Proteins, Dietary, Muscle, Skeletal, Cross-Over Studies, Young Adult

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