NEW STUDY ILLUSTRATES THAT POTATO PROTEIN INGESTION STRONGLY INCREASES MUSCLE PROTEIN SYNTHESIS RATES AT REST AND DURING RECOVERY FROM EXERCISE

Exercise enthusiasts have long presumed animal protein to be superior to plant-derived options for muscle protein synthesis due to its essential amino acid profile. While many plant proteins are deficient in one or more essential amino acids necessary for optimal muscle growth and repair, a new randomized controlled study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise shows that plant-derived proteins can still induce strong anabolic responses. Researchers at Maastricht University, The Netherlands, found that consuming 30 grams of potato-derived protein concentrate following resistance exercise strongly increased muscle protein synthesis rates to levels that did not differ from the response following the ingestion of an equivalent amount of milk protein concentrate.

The findings from van Loon’s research group demonstrate that potato-derived protein concentrate powder can be used to increase muscle protein synthesis rates both at rest and during post-exercise recovery in healthy, young men, at rates that do not differ from the ingestion of an equivalent amount of milk protein.

These study results are part of a growing body of literature that demonstrate the benefits of potatoes in physical activity and exercise recovery 1-3. As van Loon explained, “Although further dose-response studies in broader populations are undoubtedly necessary, these data seem to support the use of potato-derived protein concentrate as an effective means to support muscle conditioning.”

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References

1. Oikawa SY, Bahniwal R, Holloway TM, Lim C, McLeod JC, McGlory C, Baker SK, Phillips SM. Potato Protein Isolate Stimulates Muscle Protein Synthesis at Rest and with Resistance Exercise in Young Women. Nutrients. 2020 Apr 27;12(5):1235. doi: 10.3390/nu12051235.
2. Flynn S, Rosales A, Hailes W, Ruby B. Males and Females Exhibit Similar Muscle Glycogen Recovery with Varied Recovery Food Sources. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2020. doi: 10.1007/s00421-020-04352-2
3. Salvador AF, McKenna CF, Alamilla RA, et al. Potato Ingestion is as Effective as Carbohydrate Gels to Support Prolonged Cycling Performance. J Appl Physiol. 2019;127(6):1651-1659. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00567.2019