Not happy with gym results on your muscles? Try a blend of soy and dairy proteins after resistance exercises as this has now been touted as the best way to build muscle mass.
Researchers have found that using a protein blend of soy, casein and whey after rigorous workout ensures the delivery of select amino acids - the building blocks of muscle - to the muscle for an hour longer than using whey alone.
"This study sheds new light on how unique combinations of proteins, as opposed to single protein sources, are important for muscle recovery following exercise and help extend amino acid availability, further promoting muscle growth," explained Blake B Rasmussen, chairman of University of Texas Medical Branch's department of nutrition and metabolism.
The clinical trial included 16 healthy people, aged 19 to 30, to assess if consumption of a blend of proteins with different digestion rates would prolong amino acid availability and lead to increases in muscle protein synthesis after exercise.
The study provides critical insight for the food industry as a whole as the demand for protein in general and the sports nutrition market in particular is on the rise.
It has also shown an increase in amino acid net balance across the leg muscle during early post-exercise recovery, suggesting prolonged muscle building.
The research, based on an earlier report that a soy-dairy blend extends muscle protein synthesis when compared to whey alone, used latest methodology.
These two studies show that the use of soy-dairy blends can be an effective strategy for active individuals seeking products to support muscle health.
"The results have particular relevance to a large segment of the population - from the serious sports and fitness enthusiast to the mainstream consumer," said Greg Paul, global marketing director for DuPont Nutrition and Health.
The study appeared in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
