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Background Protein ingestion increases muscle protein synthesis rates. The food matrix in which protein is provided can strongly modulate the postprandial muscle protein synthetic response. So far, the muscle protein synthetic response to the ingestion of whole foods remains largely unexplored. Objectives To compare the impact of ingesting 30 g protein provided as milk protein or cheese on postprandial plasma amino acid concentrations and muscle protein synthesis rates at rest and during recovery from exercise in vivo in young males. Methods In this randomized, parallel-group intervention trial, 20 healthy males aged 18-35 y ingested 30 g protein provided as cheese or milk protein concentrate following a single-legged resistance-type exercise session consisting of 12 sets of leg press and leg extension exercises. Primed, continuous intravenous L-[ring-C-13(6)]-phenylalanine infusions were combined with the collection of blood and muscle tissue samples to assess postabsorptive and 4-h postprandial muscle protein synthesis rates at rest and during recovery from exercise. Data were analyzed using repeated measures Time x Group (x Leg) ANOVA. Results Plasma total amino acid concentrations increased after protein ingestion (Time: P < 0.001), with 38% higher peak concentrations following milk protein than cheese ingestion (Time x Group: P < 0.001). Muscle protein synthesis rates increased following both cheese and milk protein ingestion from 0.037 +/- 0.014 to 0.055 +/- 0.018%center dot h(-1) and 0.034 +/- 0.008 to 0.056 +/- 0.010%center dot h(-1) at rest and even more following exercise from 0.031 +/- 0.010 to 0.067 +/- 0.013%center dot h(-1) and 0.030 +/- 0.008 to 0.063 +/- 0.010%center dot h(-1), respectively (Time: all P < 0.05; Time x Leg: P = 0.002), with no differences between cheese and milk protein ingestion (Time x Group: both P > 0.05). Conclusion Cheese ingestion increases muscle protein synthesis rates both at rest and during recovery from exercise. The postprandial muscle protein synthetic response to the ingestion of cheese or milk protein does not differ when 30 g protein is ingested at rest or during recovery from exercise in healthy, young males.

Background Casein protein ingestion prior to sleep has been shown to increase myofibrillar protein synthesis rates during overnight sleep. It remains to be assessed whether pre-sleep protein ingestion can also increase mitochondrial protein synthesis rates. Though it has been suggested that casein protein may be preferred as a pre-sleep protein source, no study has compared the impact of pre-sleep whey versus casein ingestion on overnight muscle protein synthesis rates. Objective We aimed to assess the impact of casein and whey protein ingestion prior to sleep on mitochondrial and myofibrillar protein synthesis rates during overnight recovery from a bout of endurance-type exercise. Methods Thirty-six healthy young men performed a single bout of endurance-type exercise in the evening (19:45 h). Thirty minutes prior to sleep (23:30 h), participants ingested 45 g of casein protein, 45 g of whey protein, or a non-caloric placebo. Continuous intravenous l-[ring-13C6]-phenylalanine infusions were applied, with blood and muscle tissue samples being collected to assess overnight mitochondrial and myofibrillar protein synthesis rates. Results Pooled protein ingestion resulted in greater mitochondrial (0.087 ± 0.020 vs 0.067 ± 0.016%·h−1, p = 0.005) and myofibrillar (0.060 ± 0.014 vs 0.047 ± 0.011%·h−1, p = 0.012) protein synthesis rates when compared with placebo. Casein and whey protein ingestion did not differ in their capacity to stimulate mitochondrial (0.082 ± 0.019 vs 0.092 ± 0.020%·h−1, p = 0.690) and myofibrillar (0.056 ± 0.009 vs 0.064 ± 0.018%·h−1, p = 0.440) protein synthesis rates. Conclusions Protein ingestion prior to sleep increases both mitochondrial and myofibrillar protein synthesis rates during overnight recovery from exercise. The overnight muscle protein synthetic response to whey and casein protein does not differ. Clinical Trial Registration NTR7251.