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

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

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.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy Adults 18-30y
• BMI between 18.5 - 28 kg/m**2

The subjects will be excluded if:

• they have a history or current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, or metabolic disorders.
• they use tobacco products
• consume alcohol as defined as >2 drinks per day,
• follow a special diet
• reported recent significant body weight changes (>5% prior 3 months)
• report an intolerance or allergy to ingredients in the supplements.
• report regular consumption of other muscle or metabolic stimulating products or drugs such as creatine, other amino acids or protein supplements, growth hormone or derivatives, or ergogenic aids including steroids.
• if they answer "no" to any question on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire which would indicate that the subject cannot safely participate in an exercise program.