The role of protein turnover in muscle responses to aerobic exercise
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Muscle protein turnover: the effects of physical inactivity and exercise training
IRAS ID
208784
Contact name
Jatin G Burniston
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool John Moores University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 7 days
Research summary
Low levels of physical activity and other factors such as obesity and high blood pressure are known to increase the risk of developing chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Regular exercise is an effective treatment for individuals at risk because it improves aerobic fitness and the body’s ability to use fats and sugars. The exact reason for these benefits is not entirely clear but it is likely they are largely due to changes that occur in muscle because this is the largest tissue in the body and is highly responsive to changes in activity.
Data from experimental models suggests an inability to maintain protein quality control (i.e. protein turnover) may be one of the fundamental causes of the ageing process and the particularly rapid decline in muscle function in individuals at risk of chronic diseases. However, it is not yet known whether protein quality is actually affected in adult human muscle, nor is it clear whether exercise training can reverse the detrimental effects on protein turnover that are thought to be associated with indicators of chronic disease.
The proposed work aims to investigate the turnover of skeletal muscle proteins using two inter-related studies (Parts A & B). First, a cross-sectional comparison will be made to investigate differences in the turnover of muscle proteins between inactive individuals that are overweight and age-matched endurance-trained athletes (Part A). In Part B we will take a longitudinal approach and investigate muscle protein turnover prior to and after a 10-week exercise programme in previously inactive individuals.REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0296
Date of REC Opinion
5 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion