In middle-to-older adults, eating a low-protein breakfast with either whey or pea protein at a dose of 0.13 grams per kilogram of body weight results in the same levels of blood glucose and insulin...
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
Both proteins deliver enough amino acids to trigger the same insulin response, so blood sugar stays steady no matter which one you eat. The faster leucine spike from whey doesn't make insulin rise higher or lower than pea protein.
Most probable mechanism
When both whey and pea protein are added in the same amount to a low-protein meal, they release amino acids at similar speeds and trigger the same amount of insulin release, which keeps blood sugar levels steady and prevents either protein from causing a bigger change in glucose or insulin than the other.
Whey protein releases leucine more rapidly than pea protein due to its higher leucine content and faster digestion rate, leading to a transient spike in plasma leucine concentration.
Despite higher leucine levels from whey, the total amino acid pool and essential amino acid delivery over time remain similar between whey and pea protein ingestion, resulting in comparable stimulation of pancreatic beta-cell insulin secretion.
Insulin secretion increases similarly after both protein supplements, promoting identical rates of glucose uptake into skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, which prevents divergent changes in postprandial plasma glucose concentration.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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Postprandial plasma amino acid and appetite responses to a low protein breakfast supplemented with whey or pea protein in middle-to-older aged adults
Contradicting (0)
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