The Effect of ProHydrolase® on the Amino Acid and Intramuscular Anabolic Signaling Response to Resistance Exercise in Trained Males

Acute Microbial Protease Supplementation Increases Net Postprandial Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations After Pea Protein Ingestion in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Digestibility is a primary factor in determining the quality of dietary protein. Microbial protease supplementation may be a strategy for improving protein digestion and subsequent postprandial plasma amino acid availability.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effect of co-ingesting a microbial protease mixture with pea protein on postprandial plasma amino acid concentrations.

DESIGN

A mixture of 3 microbial protease preparations (P3) was tested for proteolytic efficacy in an in vitro static simulation of gastrointestinal digestion. Subsequently, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, 24 healthy adults (27 ± 4 y; 12 females, 12 males) ingested 25 g pea protein isolate (20 g protein, 2.2 g fat) with either P3 or maltodextrin placebo (PLA). Blood samples were collected at baseline and throughout a 0‒5 h postprandial period and both the early (0-2 h) iAUC and total (0-5 h) iAUC were examined.

RESULTS

Plasma glucose concentrations decreased in both conditions (P < 0.001), with higher concentrations after P3 ingestion compared with PLA (P < 0.001). Plasma insulin concentrations increased for both conditions (P < 0.001) with no difference between conditions (P = 0.331). Plasma total amino acid (TAA) concentrations increased over time (P < 0.001) with higher concentrations observed for P3 compared with PLA (P = 0.010) during the 0‒5 h period. There was a trend for elevated essential amino acid (EAA) concentrations for P3 compared with PLA (P = 0.099) during the 0‒5 h postprandial period but not for leucine (P = 0.282) or branched-chain amino acids (BCAA, P = 0.410). The early net exposure (0‒2 h iAUC) to amino acids (leucine, BCAA, EAA, and TAA) was higher for P3 compared with PLA (all, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Microbial protease co-ingestion increases plasma TAA concentrations (0-5 h) and leucine, BCAA, EAA, and TAA availability in the early postprandial period (0‒2 h) compared with ingesting pea protein with placebo in healthy adults.

Study of amino acids absorption and gut microbiome on consumption of pea protein blended with enzymes-probiotics supplement

The current randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial was conducted to evaluate changes in the amino acid absorption and gut microbiota on consumption of pea protein supplemented with an enzymes-probiotics blend (Pepzyme Pro). A total of 15 healthy subjects were instructed to take test (pea protein + Pepzyme Pro) or placebo (pea protein + maltodextrin) for 15 days with a 30-day washout period. Blood samples were analyzed for plasma-free amino acids, insulin, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Additionally, nitrogen levels in urine and feces, along with the composition of gut microbiota, were evaluated. On day 15, the test arm showed a tendency to increase the rate of absorption and total absorption (AUC) of amino acids compared with the placebo arm, though the increase was statistically insignificant. In addition, 15-day test supplementation showed a tendency to reduce Tmax of all the amino acids (statistically insignificant except alanine, p = 0.021 and glycine, p = 0.023) in comparison with the placebo supplementation. There were no changes in urine and fecal nitrogen levels as well as serum CRP levels in the test and placebo arm. The increase in serum insulin level after 4 h was statistically significant in both arms, whereas the insulin level of the placebo and test arm at 4 h was not statistically different. Supplementation showed changes with respect to Archaea and few uncharacterized species but did not show statistically significant variations in microbiome profile at the higher taxonomic levels. A study with large sample size and detailed gut microbiome analysis is warranted to confirm the results statistically as well as to characterize altered species. However, the current study could provide an inkling of a positive alteration in protein digestibility, amino acid absorption, and gut microbiome with regular consumption of protein and enzymes-probiotics blend. Clinical Trial Registration:clinicaltrials.gov/; identifier [CTRI/2021/10/037072].

The Skeletal Muscle Microbiopsy Method in Exercise and Sports Science Research: A Narrative and Methodological Review

BACKGROUND

The skeletal muscle microbiopsy protocol was introduced to the Exercise and Sports Science (ESS) research field in 1999 and has been used as a protocol to directly examine muscular structural and biochemical changes. There is much variation in the reporting of the microbiopsy protocol and its related pre-and post-procedure for participant care and sample collection. The purpose of this narrative and methodological review is to compare the microbiopsy to the traditional Bergström protocol used in the ESS field, identify and summarize all related microbiopsy protocols used in previous ESS studies and determine the most frequently used microbiopsy protocols aspects and associated pre- and post-biopsy procedures; METHODS: A review of literature up to January, 2022 was used following the PRISMA and Cochrane Methodological Review Guide to determine frequently used methods that may facilitate optimal and potential recommendations for muscle microbiopsy needle gauge (G), concentration or dose (% or mL) and administration of local anesthetic, co-axial/cannula introducer gauge (G), muscle depth (cm), muscle sample size collected (mg), passes to collect samples, time points of muscle sampling, and promotion of participant compliance and minimization of adverse events; RESULTS: 85 articles were selected based on the inclusionary requirements related to the ESS field or methodological considerations. The most frequently reported aspects in previous research to suggest the location of the vastus lateralis is the midpoint between the patella and the greater trochanter of the femur or 1/3 or 2/3 the distance from the patella to anterior superior iliac spine, 14 G biopsy needle, subcutaneous injected lidocaine administration (2 mL; 1%), 13 G co-axial/cannula, 1-2 cm muscle depth, 10-20 mg of muscle sample, ~3-time points, 2-3 passes; DISCUSSION: There is much variation in the reporting of the microbiopsy protocol and its related pre-and post-biopsy procedures. Standardization in reporting may promote recommendations to optimize data integrity, participant safety, participant adherence to the study design, and increase reproducibility. Recommendations are made for the microbiopsy procedure based on frequently reported characteristics.

Assessing Hydrolyzed Gluten Content in Dietary Enzyme Supplements Following Fermentation

Partially digested gluten fragments from grains including wheat, rye, spelt and barley are responsible for triggering an inflammatory response in the intestinal tract of Celiac Disease (CD) and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitive (NCGS) individuals. Fermentation is an effective method to metabolize gluten, with enzymes from bacterial or fungal species being released to help in this process. However, the levels of gluten in commercially available enzymes, including those involved in gluten fermentation, are unknown. In this study we investigated gluten levels in commercially available dietary enzymes combined with assessing their effect on inflammatory response in human cell culture assays. Using antibodies that recognize different gluten epitopes (G12, R5, 2D4, MloBS and Skerritt), we employed ELISA and immunoblotting methodologies to determine gluten content in crude gluten, crude gliadin, pepsin-trypsin digested gluten and a selection of commercially available enzymes. We further investigated the effect of these compounds on inflammatory response in immortalized immune and intestinal human cell lines, as well as in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from coeliac individuals. All tested supplemental enzyme products reported a gluten concentration that was equivalent to or below 20 parts per million (ppm) as compared with an intact wheat reference standard and a pepsin-trypsin digested standard. Similarly, the inflammatory response to IL-8 and TNF-α inflammatory cytokines in mammalian cell lines and PBMCs from coeliac individuals to the commercial enzymes was not significantly different to 20 ppm of crude gluten, crude gliadin or pepsin-trypsin digested gluten. This combined approach provides insight into the extent of gluten breakdown in the fermentation process and the safety of these products to gluten-sensitive individuals.

Plasma Amino Acid Response to Whey Protein Ingestion Following 28 Days of Probiotic (Bacillus subtilis DE111) Supplementation in Active Men and Women

We sought to determine if 28 days of probiotic supplementation influenced the plasma amino acid (AA) response to acute whey protein feeding.

METHODS

Twenty-two recreationally active men (n = 11; 24.3 ± 3.2 yrs; 89.3 ± 7.2 kg) and women (n = 11; 23.0 ± 2.8 yrs; 70.2 ± 15.2 kg) participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study. Before (PRE) and after 28 days of supplementation (POST), participants reported to the lab following a 10-hr fast and provided a resting blood draw (0 min), then subsequently consumed 25 g of whey protein. Blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals for 2 h post-consumption (15-120 min) and later analyzed for plasma leucine, branched-chain AA (BCAA), essential AA (EAA), and total AA (TAA). Participants received a probiotic (PROB) consisting of 1 x10-9 colony forming units (CFU) Bacillus subtilis DE111 (n = 11) or a maltodextrin placebo (PL) (n = 11) for 28 days. Plasma AA response and area under the curve (AUC) values were analyzed via repeated measures analysis of variance.

RESULTS

Our analysis indicated no significant (p < 0.05) differential responses for plasma leucine, BCAA, EAA, or TAA between PROB and PL from PRE to POST. AUC analysis revealed no group × time interaction for plasma leucine (p = 0.524), BCAA (p = 0.345), EAA (p = 0.512), and TAA (p = 0.712).

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that 28 days of Bacillus subtilis DE111 does not affect plasma AA appearance following acute whey protein ingestion.