Fish Protein Ingestion Induces Neural, but Not Muscular Adaptations, Following Resistance Training in Young Adults.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether fish protein ingestion combined with resistance training affects neural and muscular adaptations in young adults.
Results Summary
Fish protein ingestion led to significant changes in motor unit firing rates after resistance training, though no significant differences were observed in muscle mass or maximum voluntary contraction compared to the control group.
Population
Young adults
Effective Dosage
5 g of fish protein (Alaska pollack protein) daily
Duration
8 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
fish protein ingestion with resistance training | increase | Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) | young adults | - | significantly increased | #1 |
casein ingestion with resistance training | increase | Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) | young adults | - | significantly increased | #2 |
fish protein ingestion with resistance training | no change | Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) | young adults | - | no significant differences | #3 |
casein ingestion with resistance training | no change | Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) | young adults | - | no significant differences | #4 |
fish protein ingestion with resistance training | no change | Muscle mass | young adults | - | not significantly changed | #5 |
casein ingestion with resistance training | no change | Muscle mass | young adults | - | not significantly changed | #6 |
fish protein ingestion with resistance training | increase | motor unit firing rates | young adults | - | Significant changes | #7 |
casein ingestion with resistance training | no change | motor unit firing rates | young adults | - | not observed | #8 |
Purpose: Nutritional supplementation in conjunction with exercise is of interest for the prevention or improvement of declines in motor performances in older adults. An understanding of the effects on both young and older adults contributes to its effective application. We investigated the effect of fish protein ingestion with resistance training on neural and muscular adaptations in young adults using interventions and assessments that have already been tested in older adults. Methods: Eighteen young adults underwent 8 weeks of isometric knee extension training. During the intervention, nine participants ingested 5 g of fish protein (n = 9, Alaska pollack protein, APP), and the other nine participants ingested casein as a control (n = 9, CAS) in addition to daily meals. Before, during, and after the intervention, the isometric knee extension force, lower extremity muscle mass, and motor unit firing pattern of knee extensor muscles were measured. Results: Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) was significantly increased in both APP and CAS groups from 0 weeks to 4, 6, and 8 weeks of intervention (p < 0.001), but there were no significant differences between the groups (p = 0.546-0.931). Muscle mass was not significantly changed during the intervention in either group (p = 0.250-0.698). Significant changes in motor unit firing rates (p = 0.02 and 0.029 for motor units recruited at 20-40% of MVC and at 40-60%) were observed following the intervention in the APP but not CAS (p = 0.120-0.751) group. Conclusions: These results suggest that dietary fish protein ingestion changes motor unit adaptations following resistance training in young adults.