NCT07420933

Pea vs Whey Protein Supplementation With Resistance Training on Young Adults' Strength, Body Composition, and Metabolic Parameters

The Effect of Pea Protein Supplementation on Muscle Hypertrophy and Metabolic Parameters in Young Adults Following an 8-week Resistance Training Program

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 34 (actual)
• Sponsor: Texas Woman's University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 30 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the impact of pea protein or whey protein supplementation during a progressive resistance exercise (PRE) regimen on body composition and strength in young adults who are not undergoing regular strength training. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Do lean body mass changes differ between supplement groups following a progressive resistance exercise PRE training program? 2. Does improvements in muscle strength differ between groups following a PRE training program? 3. Does glucose, insulin, and essential amino acid appearance and clearance rate differ between groups following a PRE training program? Researchers will compare pea protein supplementation to whey protein supplementation to see if there are any differences in body composition and strength Participants will: * Consume Pea or Whey protein supplement twice daily for 8 weeks * Participate in a PRE training program twice weekly for approximately 1.5 hours per day

Detailed description

Adequate dietary protein intake is essential for maximizing skeletal muscle hypertrophy and strength gains during progressive resistance exercise (PRE) training. Whey protein isolate is commonly used to support these adaptations; however, there is limited clinical evidence comparing plant-based protein supplements with whey protein when protein dose is controlled and combined with structured resistance training. Pea protein isolate represents a sustainable, plant-based alternative, but its effectiveness in promoting muscle accretion, strength, and metabolic responses relative to whey protein isolate has not been fully characterized. Therefore, this study will compare the effects of pea protein isolate and whey protein isolate supplementation on changes in lean body mass, muscle strength, and postprandial metabolic responses in healthy, untrained young adult males. Participants will be randomized in a double-blind, parallel-group design to consume either pea protein isolate or whey protein isolate for 8 weeks while completing a supervised, PRE training program. Lean body mass and strength outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention, and acute postprandial essential amino acid, glucose, and insulin responses will be evaluated following standardized protein ingestion at baseline and post-intervention.

Conditions

• Healthy Subjects

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Protein Isolate	Participants in this arm will consume protein isolate (24g/sachet) twice daily for 8 weeks.
BEHAVIORAL	Progressive Resistance Exercise Training (PRE)	Based on the resistance training guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine, each subject will attend two supervised resistance training sessions weekly for a duration of 8 weeks. A minimum two day rest between PRE sessions will be required. Twelve exercises that targets each major muscle group will be conducted at each exercise session in the order listed below: 1. Seated chest press 2. Lat pulldown 3. Military Press 4. Seated row 5. Bicep Curl 6. Triceps Extension 7. Leg Press 8. Leg extension 9. Leg Curl 10. Heel Raise 11. Abdominal curls 12. Back extension At the first exercise session, each subject's 1-RM will be estimated for the exercises listed above

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-02-03
• Primary completion: 2025-12-06
• Completion: 2025-12-06
• First posted: 2026-02-19
• Last updated: 2026-02-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States