The Effect of Menstrual Cycle Phase and Protein Dose on Muscle Protein Synthesis

The Effect of Menstrual Cycle Phase and Protein Dose on Muscle Protein Synthesis in Response to Exercise in Young Females

Adaptation to resistance exercise requires maximal rates of muscle protein synthesis, which can be achieved with post-exercise ingestion of ~20g of protein. These recommendations are based on studies in males and responses in females may vary.

Muscle recovery is related to the ability to build new muscle protein from amino acids (muscle protein synthesis). This response is thought to be impacted in females by hormones that fluctuate across different phases of the menstrual cycle. However, the effect of menstrual cycle phase on muscle protein synthesis is not known.

Inclusion Criteria:

• BMI between 18 and 30
• Recreationally active
• Regular menstrual cycle

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smoking
• Metabolic disease
• Any motor disorder
• Use of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, during the study.
• Pomegranate, milk or lidocaine allergy
• Taken contraceptives in the past 3 months
• Irregular menstrual cycle (less than 9 cycles per year and a length not between 21-35 days)
• Post-menopausal women
• Pregnancy and lactation