Premium
Effects of high‐protein diets on fat‐free mass and muscle protein synthesis following weight loss: a randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Pasiakos Stefan M.,
Cao Jay J.,
Margolis Lee M.,
Sauter Edward R.,
Whigham Leah D.,
McClung James P.,
Rood Jennifer C.,
Carbone John W.,
Combs Gerald F.,
Young Andrew J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.13-230227
Subject(s) - anabolism , postprandial , endocrinology , weight loss , medicine , zoology , high protein diet , meal , chemistry , body weight , biology , obesity , insulin
The purpose of this work was to determine the effects of varying levels of dietary protein on body composition and muscle protein synthesis during energy deficit (ED). A randomized controlled trial of 39 adults assigned the subjects diets providing protein at 0.8 (recommended dietary allowance; RDA), 1.6 (2X‐RDA), and 2.4 (3X‐RDA) g kg –1 d –1 for 31 d. A 10‐d weight‐maintenance (WM) period was followed by a 21 d, 40% ED. Body composition and postabsorptive and postprandial muscle protein synthesis were assessed during WM (d 9‐10) and ED (d 30‐31). Volunteers lost ( P <0.05) 3.2 ± 0.2 kg body weight during ED regardless of dietary protein. The proportion of weight loss due to reductions in fat‐free mass was lower ( P <0.05) and the loss of fat mass was higher ( P <0.05) in those receiving 2X‐RDA and 3X‐RDA compared to RDA. The anabolic muscle response to a protein‐rich meal during ED was not different ( P >0.05) from WM for 2X‐RDA and 3X‐RDA, but was lower during ED than WM for those consuming RDA levels of protein (energy × protein interaction, P <0.05). To assess muscle protein metabolic responses to varied protein intakes during ED, RDA served as the study control. In summary, we determined that consuming dietary protein at levels exceeding the RDA may protect fat‐free mass during short‐term weight loss.—Pasiakos, S. M., Cao, J. J., Margolis, L. M., Sauter, E. R., Whigham, L. D., McClung, J. P., Rood, J. C., Carbone, J. W., Combs, G. F., Jr., Young, A. J. Effects of high‐protein diets on fat‐free mass and muscle protein synthesis following weight loss: a randomized controlled trial. FASEB J. 27, 3837–3847 (2013). www.fasebj.org