The muscle protein synthetic response following corn protein ingestion does not differ from milk protein in healthy, young adults.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 38315260 · doi:10.1007/s00726-023-03377-z
What was done
Thirty-six healthy young men (mean age 26 ± 4 years) were assigned in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial to receive one of three 30 g protein drinks: 30 g corn protein (CORN), 30 g milk protein (MILK), or a 30 g blend with 15 g corn plus 15 g milk protein (CORN + MILK). Participants received primed continuous L-[ring-13C6]-phenylalanine infusions, and blood samples and muscle biopsies were collected over 5 hours post-ingestion to assess postprandial plasma amino acid profiles and myofibrillar protein synthesis rates.
What was found
Ingestion of protein increased myofibrillar protein synthesis rates from basal post-absorptive values across all treatments (P < 0.001). Post-prandial myofibrillar protein synthesis rates did not differ between CORN and MILK (0.053 ± 0.013 vs 0.053 ± 0.013%∙h⁻¹, respectively; t-test P = 0.90), or between CORN + MILK and MILK (0.052 ± 0.024 vs 0.053 ± 0.013%∙h⁻¹, respectively; t-test P = 0.92).
Why it matters
Corn protein naturally contains higher leucine concentrations than many other plant and animal proteins. These findings show that a 30 g dose of corn-derived protein can stimulate acute resting myofibrillar protein synthesis to the same extent as milk protein in healthy young adults.
Limits
The sample was small (n = 36 total, 12 per arm) and restricted entirely to healthy young males tested under resting conditions. The study did not measure long-term training adaptations, strength, exercise-induced protein synthesis, responses at lower doses, or effects in females or older populations.
Cited by
- supports Giving healthy subjects 30 grams of protein extract from pea, gluten, or corn stimulates muscle protein synthesis to a degree not significantly different from dairy protein.
- supports Corn protein extract has a higher leucine concentration than most animal-derived proteins.