Post-exercise collagen versus whey protein ingestion

Protein ingestion stimulates muscle protein synthesis and augments the muscle protein synthetic response to a single exercise session. In support, protein supplementation has been shown to augment the gains in muscle mass and strength following resistance exercise training. The force generated by contracting muscle is transferred through a network of connective tissue proteins towards the bone. Consequently, remodeling of skeletal muscle connective tissue represents an essential component of skeletal muscle adaptation to exercise. The anabolic effect of a protein supplement is mainly determined by the plasma amino acid response after ingestion. Although whey protein is considered the preferred protein source to maximize myofibrillar protein synthesis rates, it contains insufficient glycine and proline to support the post-exercise increase in connective tissue protein synthesis rates. In contrast, collagen protein is rich in glycine and proline and has, therefore, been proposed as a preferred protein source to support connective tissue remodelling. Hence, the combined ingestion of whey plus collagen protein increase may therefore be preferred to stimulate both myofibrillar and collagen protein synthesis rates in skeletal muscle tissue. However, the ratio of collagen vs whey protein within one drink for an optimal post-prandial rise in amino acid concentrations remains to be determined.

The post-prandial rise in total amino acid, proline and glycine concentration following a single bout of resistance exercise will be the highest in the 20 gr whey combined with 10 gr collagen compared to all other test drinks

Blood sample will be taken are regular time points during post-exercise recovery

Subjects will perform a single resistance exercise session and be randomly assigned to consume a drink containing different ratio's of whey vs collagen protein.