Algae Ingestion Increases Resting and Exercised Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis Rates to a Similar Extent as Mycoprotein in Young Adults
Ino van der Heijden, Sam West, Alistair J. Monteyne, Tim J. A. Finnigan, Doaa R. Abdelrahman, Andrew J. Murton, Francis B. Stephens, Benjamin T. Wall
Abstract
Spirulina (cyanobacterium) and chlorella (microalgae) are protein and essential amino acid rich novel foods, but their capacity to stimulate myofibrillar protein synthesis (MyoPS) in humans remains unknown. We assessed the impact of ingesting spirulina and chlorella compared with an established high quality non-animal-derived dietary protein source (fungal-derived mycoprotein) on plasma amino acid concentrations, and resting and post-exercise MyoPS rates in young adults. Thirty-six healthy young adults (age: 22±3 y; BMI: 23±3 kg·m-2; male [m]/female [f], 18/18) participated in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial. Participants received a primed, continuous infusion of L-[ring-2H5]-phenylalanine and completed a bout of unilateral resistance leg exercise before ingesting a drink containing 25 g protein from mycoprotein (MYCO; n=12; m/f, 6/6), spirulina (SPIR; n=12; m/f, 6/6), or chlorella (CHLO; n=12; m/f, 6/6). Blood and bilateral muscle samples were collected at baseline, and during a 4 h postprandial and post-exercise period to assess plasma amino acid concentrations and MyoPS rates in rested and exercised tissue. Protein ingestion increased plasma total and essential amino acid concentrations (time effects; all P<0.001), but most rapidly and with higher peak responses following ingestion of SPIR vs MYCO and CHLO (P<0.05), and MYCO vs CHLO (P<0.05). Protein ingestion increased MyoPS rates (time effect; P<0.001) in both rested (MYCO, from 0.041±0.032 to 0.060±0.015%·h−1; SPIR, from 0.042±0.030 to 0.066±0.022%·h−1; and CHLO, from 0.037±0.007 to 0.055±0.019%·h−1, respectively) and exercised tissue (MYCO, from 0.046±0.014 to 0.092±0.024%·h−1; SPIR, from 0.038±0.011 to 0.086±0.028%·h−1; and CHLO, from 0.048±0.019 to 0.090±0.024%·h−1, respectively), with no differences between groups (interaction effect; P>0.05), but with higher rates in exercised compared with resting muscle (time × exercise effect; P<0.001). The ingestion of a single bolus of algae-derived spirulina and chlorella increases resting and post-exercise MyoPS rates, and to a comparable extent as mycoprotein, despite divergent postprandial plasma amino acid responses. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05016557