Protein, Exercise, And Factors Affecting Muscle Mass.

The factors underlying variations in protein synthesis and catabolism, which regulate muscle mass, are complex and still being worked out. However, we have enough information now to allow us to manipulate both processes and increase muscle accretion.

While difficult to understand, and even tedious at times, the principles behind the regulation of protein metabolism are worth knowing about since they underlie much of what we do in our attempts to maximize body composition and exercise performance.

For example, amino acids, while important as substrates for various metabolic pathways, are also regulators of protein synthesis and other metabolic processes.

We know that like exercise, amino acids increase protein synthesis with the signaling pathways influencing mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), which in turn stimulates protein synthesis.^1,2

Accelerated protein breakdown and a net protein loss occur secondary to exhaustive exercise and in injury and various diseases. The negative nitrogen balance observed in such cases represents the net result of breakdown and synthesis; with breakdown increased and synthesis either increased or diminished.

RELATED ARTICLE
[ Click here to learn more. ] Nitrogen Balance. Any bodybuilder with a rudimentary understanding of the sport would know the key to gaining muscle is protein consumption. But how do we know if we are getting enough protein?	Author: David Robson

Under certain conditions protein catabolism can also be decreased. As well, protein synthesis can be increased or decreased under certain conditions. The net result depends on the conditions present and the effects on both synthesis and catabolism.

For example, in order to have a net increase in protein synthesis so that there is an increase in the concentration of a protein in a cell, its rate of synthesis would have to increase or its breakdown decrease or both. There are at least four ways in which the concentration of protein in a cell could be changed:

1. The rate of synthesis of the mRNA that codes for the particular protein(s) could be increased (known as transcriptional control).
2. The rate of synthesis of the polypeptide chain by the ribosomal-mRNA complex could be increased (known as translational control).
3. The rate of degradation of the mRNA could be decreased (also translational control).
4. The rate of degradation of the protein could be decreased.

The following table outlines some of the conditions or factors affecting protein synthesis. Many of these conditions and factors are inter-related. Keep in mind that protein synthesis is increased as the result of a net positive change secondary to changes in both (or less commonly one of) synthesis and catabolism.

Table 1:
Some Conditions And Factors Affecting Protein Synthesis:**

i. Cellular hydration refers to an intracellular state and as such is different from extracellular hydration.

ii. Thyroid hormone (thyroxine and triiodothyronine) stimulate both protein synthesis and degradation depending on their levels in the body. Not enough or too much can be detrimental to protein synthesis. Higher than normal levels of thyroid hormone leads to the catabolism of protein.

** From Amino Acids and Proteins for the Athlete, the Anabolic Edge, Mauro Di Pasquale, M.D., 2nd Edition in Press.

Click To Enlarge.
Several Different Factors
Can Affect Protein Synthesis.

The amount of protein synthesis that takes place during and after exercise is dependent on several factors including a complete complement of precursor amino acids (both essential and non-essential amino acids), specific acetylating enzymes, tRNA, and adequate ATP levels.

RELATED ARTICLE
[ Click here to learn more. ] ATP: Energy's Currency! If one has ever wondered just how we are able to summons the energy to perform a number of activities under a variety of conditions, the answer, in large part, is ATP.	Author: David Robson

While the relation of protein synthesis to the ambient concentrations of amino acids in the intracellular and extracellular pools has not been fully defined, it is possible to identify sets of intracellular amino acids that predict the level of protein synthesis, and to delineate combinations of plasma amino acids whose levels account for a significant portion of the variance in the intracellular predictor amino acids in normal human infants and adults.

In one study the intracellular concentrations of most amino acids were found to be higher than their concentrations in plasma, except for valine and citrulline, which were lower. The "aminograms" in the two pools also were very different - 44% of the variance in protein synthesis was accounted for by the intracellular concentrations of leucine, glycine, alanine, and taurine in neonates, and 45% by a combination of threonine, valine, methionine, and histidine in adults.

The intracellular concentrations of each of these predictor amino acids in adults were, in turn, related to different combinations of the plasma concentrations of threonine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, isoleucine, histidine, citrulline, ornithine, arginine, and glycine.

The increases in intracellular amino acid concentrations seen with exercise may reflect decreased protein synthesis, accelerated protein catabolism, an increase in amino acid transport into the cell, or combinations of these conditions.

For example an increase in protein synthesis would be expected to cause a decrease in amino acids but this may be offset by an increase in intracellular availability due to increased transport. As well, altered intracellular amino acid levels may directly regulate exchange diffusion of intracellular for extracellular amino acid(s).

RELATED ARTICLE
[ Click here to learn more. ] Amino Acid Metabolism! Our current examination of proteins and amino acids will cover the metabolism of the protein we eat, dietary protein, and catabolic situations in the body.	Author: Derek Beast Charlebois

Effects Of Exercise On Protein Synthesis & Degradation

Acute bouts of exercise can induce measurable changes in protein, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism. These changes are characterized by a change in protein catabolism and synthesis and an increased utilization of protein for gluconeogenesis and lipids for oxidative fuel.^4,5,6,7 Chronic daily exercise leads to adaptive processes that result in a net increase in total body as well as peripheral nitrogen stores.⁸

Exercise has profound effects on protein synthesis and degradation, and on the endogenous anabolic and catabolic hormones, which in turn modulate the adaptation response to exercise.^{9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,18,19,20} In general protein synthesis is suppressed during exercise while protein degradation appears to be increased; while in the recovery period during which hypertrophy occurs, protein synthesis is increased while protein degradation is suppressed in those muscle bearing the greatest load.^{21,22,23,24,25,26,27}

Recovery:

• What Are The Best Supplements For Recovery? - By Topic Of The Week
• Recovery 101 - Creating The Ultimate Physique. - By Josh Dickinson
• The Cool Down - Recover Faster & Avoid Injury. - By Brad Walker
• Other Recovery Articles...

Shortly after training protein synthesis increases with a peak in synthesis rate of between 3 to 24 h, with elevated rates lasting as long as 48 to 72 hours after exercise.^{28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35}

Effects Of Protein & Amino Acids On Exercise Performance

An increase in protein intake by itself has been shown to not only increase protein synthesis and decrease muscle breakdown, but has also been shown to increase both aerobic and anaerobic performance.^36,37,38,39

Amino acid supplementation can have dramatic effects on various aspects of exercise, increasing protein synthesis and/or reducing degradation, and has been shown to attenuate muscle damage and enhance recovery.^40,41,42

Data from one study showed that amino acid supplementation attenuates muscle damage during the initial high stress of overreaching, and the authors felt that this effect may partially explain the enhanced ability of the subjects to maintain muscle strength.⁴³

Click To Enlarge.
Subjects Had An Enhanced Ability
To Maintain Muscle Strength.

Oral or infused amino acids increase amino acid availability and protein synthesis by influencing several pathways. Amino acids are important intermediary metabolites and also function as signaling molecules with insulin-like effects. For example, supplementation with only 6 g of essential amino acids has been shown to elevate protein synthesis.⁴⁴

Branched-chain amino acids have been shown to reduce proteolysis in rat skeletal muscle and leucine has been shown to elevate protein synthesis via posttranscriptional mechanisms (phosphorylation of p70S6 and eIF4E-binding protein 1).⁴⁶

View Protein Powders Sorted By Top Sellers Here.
View Amino Acids Products Sorted By Top Sellers Here.
View BCAA Products Sorted By Top Sellers Here.

References: