CompletedNot Applicable

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

United Kingdom28 participantsStarted 2022-01-16

Plain-language summary

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.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 40 Years

Sex

FEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

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

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Muscle protein synthesis

Timeframe: 7.5 hours

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05178732

SponsorUniversity of Exeter

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2023-02-28

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Muscle Protein Synthesis trials