Peanut Protein Supplementation to Augment Muscle Growth and Improve Markers of Muscle Quality and Health in Older Adults

Peanut Protein Supplementation to Augment Muscle Growth and Improve Markers of Muscle Quality and Health in Older Adults

Open-label Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Effects of Peanut Protein Powder Supplement on Muscle Growth, Muscle Quality and Other Health Biomarkers in Older Adults Engaging in a Ten-week, Whole-body Resistance Training Program

This study will evaluate the adaptations in skeletal muscle that occur in response to 10 weeks of weight training with or without peanut protein supplementation in older adult men and women.

Aging is associated with declines in muscle mass, physical strength and physical function. Adequate quality protein intake in aging adults is critical to preventing functional decline. Peanuts provide a unique blend of amino acids that can provide several health benefits to aging adults. While supplementing with peanut protein (PP) powder as part of a resistance training program may increase myofibrillar protein synthesis (i.e., the gold standard molecular assessment in deciphering a muscle-building response), and improve skeletal muscle quality and body composition, no study to date has made this determination. This is a two-phase study using both novel and conventional methods to assess how PP supplementation affects muscle tissue in older individuals who engage in resistance training. These two phases will be conducted as part of a 10-week randomized controlled trial in which men and women aged 50 years and older (n=60), will be stratified by gender and randomized to a resistance training intervention (whole body, two days per week) with PP powder (72g daily; n=15 males, n=15 females) provided during the intervention (immediate group, IG) or after the intervention (wait-list control, WLC, n=15 males, n=15 females). The aims of this study are to determine the acute (deuterium oxide tracer) and chronic (peripheral quantitative computed tomography) effects of PP during resistance training on skeletal muscle myofibrillar protein synthesis rates, changes in skeletal muscle size and quality, changes in whole and appendicular body composition (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry), changes in inflammatory markers and the fecal microbiome.

muscle protein synthesis, resistance training, protein supplementation, skeletal muscle physiology, inflammatory cytokines, fecal microbiome, plant protein

Intervention group will receive the supplement during the study period and the wait-listed control group will receive the supplement after the study period. Both groups will participate in resistance training during the 10 week period

PI and Co-Is will be blind to participant randomization. One study staff member will be responsible for administering the supplements to participants per randomization

Participants will complete 10 weeks of twice-weekly whole body resistance training. Peanut protein powder (72g/day) will be provided for daily consumption during the study period

Participants will complete 10 weeks of twice-weekly whole body resistance training. Peanut protein powder will be provided after the study period

Peanut protein powder will be provided to participants who will be instructed to consume 72g daily, mixed with water

Participants will undergo supervised resistance training two times per week (5 exercises, 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions per set)

Change in right leg vastus lateralis myofibrillar protein synthesis rates using the integrated deuterium oxide technique from biopsies immediately before and 24 hours after resistance exercise

peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) cross-sectional image of mid-right thigh assessed for total muscle cross-sectional area, subcutaneous adipose tissue area, total intra- and inter-muscular adipose tissue area and overall muscle density

Muscle biopsy immunofluorescent staining for determination of type I and type II muscle fiber cross sectional area (fCSA) as a cellular determinant of skeletal muscle hypertrophy

serum C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, plasma 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine

Inclusion Criteria: body mass index (body mass/height squared) less than 35 kg/m2 resting blood pressure averaging less than 140/90 mmHg (with or without medication) Exclusion Criteria: known peanut allergy actively participating in resistance training for more than 2 days/week any known overt cardiovascular or metabolic disease metal implants that will interfere with x-ray procedures medically necessary radiation exposure in the last six months (except dental x-ray) any medical condition that would contradict participating in an exercise program, giving blood or donating a skeletal muscle biopsy (i.e. blood clotting disorder or taking blood thinners)

Lamb DA, Moore JH, Smith MA, Vann CG, Osburn SC, Ruple BA, Fox CD, Smith KS, Altonji OM, Power ZM, Cerovsky AE, Ross CO, Cao AT, Goodlett MD, Huggins KW, Fruge AD, Young KC, Roberts MD. The effects of resistance training with or without peanut protein supplementation on skeletal muscle and strength adaptations in older individuals. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2020 Dec 14;17(1):66. doi: 10.1186/s12970-020-00397-y.