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The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of feeding fava bean (Vicia faba L.) protein (FBP) on resting and post-exercise myofibrillar fractional synthetic rate (myoFSR). In a parallel, double-blind, randomised control trial, sixteen young, healthy recreationally active adults (age = 25 (5) years, body mass = 70 (15) kg, stature = 1.72 (0.11) m, mean (SD)) ingested 0.33 g·kg−1 FBP (n = 8) or a negative control (CON, i.e., EAA-free mixture) (n = 8), immediately after a bout of unilateral knee-extensor resistance exercise. Plasma, saliva, and m. vastus lateralis muscle samples were obtained pre-ingestion and 3 h post-ingestion. MyoFSR was calculated via deuterium labelling of myofibrillar-bound alanine, measured by gas chromatography–pyrolysis–isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-Pyr-IRMS). Resistance exercise increased myoFSR (p = 0.012). However, ingestion of FBP did not evoke an increase in resting (FBP 29 [−5, 63] vs. CON 12 [−25, 49]%, p = 0.409, mean % change [95% CI]) or post-exercise (FBP 78 [33, 123]% vs. CON 58 [9, 107]%, p = 0.732) myoFSR. Ingestion of 0.33 g·kg−1 of FBP does not appear to enhance resting or post-exercise myoFSR in young, healthy, recreationally active adults.

Additional file 1: Supplementary Table 1 (S1). Assessment parameters before (pre) and after (post) a 4-week period of laboratory (supervised) high-intensity interval training (L-HIIT), home (unsupervised) HIIT (H-HIIT) or a no intervention control (CON) period.

Additional file 1: Table S1. Costs associated with each recruitment method. Figure S1. Facebook campaigns. Figure S2. Mailshot template.

Despite extensive research, the relationship between age and physiological function remains poorly characterised and there are currently no reliable markers of human ageing. This is probably due to a number of confounding factors, particularly in studies of a cross-sectional nature. These include inter-subject genetic variation, as well as inter-generational differences in nutrition, healthcare and insufficient levels of physical activity as well as other environmental factors. We have studied a cohort of highly and homogeneously active older male (n = 84) and female (n = 41) cyclists aged 55–79 years who it is proposed represent a model for the study of human ageing free from the majority of confounding factors, especially inactivity. The aim of the study was to identify physiological markers of ageing by assessing the relationship between function and age across a wide range of indices. Each participant underwent a detailed physiological profiling which included measures of cardiovascular, respiratory, neuromuscular, metabolic, endocrine and cognitive functions, bone strength, and health and well-being. Significant associations between age and function were observed for many functions. The maximal rate of oxygen consumption ( showed the closest association with age (r = −0.443 to −0.664; P