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Diet Synergy in Muscle Protein Synthesis

Impact of Food Combinations on the Stimulation of Post-exercise Muscle Protein Synthesis in Healthy Adults

Who can join

Ages 19 to 40 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 19-40 yrs
* Pre-menopausal
* Recreationally-active
* Weight stable for prior 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

* Age outside of range (20 - 35 yrs)
* Pregnancy
* Irregular menstrual cycles (i.e., \~21 day or \~35 day cycle)
* Participation in previous research using L-\[1-13C\] leucine and L-\[ring-2H5\] phenylalanine
* Participation in other ongoing research that interferes with this study (e.g., conflicting diet, activity interventions, etc.)

About the study

In the present semi-crossover randomized design, 15 recreationally active young adults (19-40 y) will receive stable isotope tracer infusions and perform a single bout of resistance exercise. Immediately after exercise, participants will ingest either 1 medium russet potato with skins and 2 ounce-equivalent lean ground beef combination (274 kcals, 19.3 g protein, 5 g fat, 37 g carbohydrates, and 4 g fiber), 2 slices of white bread and beef combination (262 kcals, 19.8 g protein, 6.8 g fat, 28 g carbohydrates, and 1.8 g fiber) or 2 ounce-equivalent beef (93% lean meat/7% fat; 110 kcals, 14.8 g protein, and 5 g fat). Repeated blood and muscle biopsies will be collected to determine whole body leucine kinetics, amino acid concentrations, anabolic signaling and myofibrillar protein synthesis rates during the trials.

What is being tested

• Resistance Exercise (behavioral)
• Potato and Beef (dietary supplement)
• Bread and Beef (dietary supplement)
• Beef (dietary supplement)

Sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · Participants: 15 · Started: Mar 1, 2026

Contact the study team

• Nicholas A Burd (Full Professor), PhD · Phone: 2172440970
• Calvin Chen, PhD Student · Phone: 2173906655

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07367854

Locations in the U.S.

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.