The Claim

In adults aged 50–70 years consuming 1.0 g/kg/day of protein, the source of protein (animal-derived whey versus plant-derived pea) has no measurable effect on daily myofibrillar protein synthesis rates during resistance training or at rest over a 10-day period.

Source: Resistance training increases myofibrillar protein synthesis in middle-to-older aged adults consuming a typical diet with no influence of protein source: a randomized controlled trial

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
72score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Description
1 study reviewed
In plain English

For adults aged 50 to 70 who consume 1.0 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight daily, myofibrillar protein synthesis rates are the same whether the protein comes from whey or pea, during both resistance training and rest over 10 days.

See the scientific wording

In adults aged 50–70 years consuming 1.0 g/kg/day of protein, the source of protein (animal-derived whey vs. plant-derived pea) has no measurable effect on daily myofibrillar protein synthesis rates during resistance training or at rest over a 10-day period, suggesting that short-term muscle anabolic responses are not compromised by plant-based protein sources in this context.

Why this might work

When muscles are stretched and pulled during strength exercises, the physical force triggers the muscle cells to start building more contractile proteins. This happens whether the protein comes from milk or peas, as long as enough total protein is eaten. The muscle cells use amino acids from the blood to make new proteins, and the exercise makes this process run faster without needing different signals based on where the amino acids came from.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: Resistance training increases myofibrillar protein synthesis in middle-to-older aged adults consuming a typical diet with no influence of protein source: a randomized controlled trial

    In middle-aged and older adults, eating pea protein instead of whey protein didn’t make their muscles repair any slower after exercise — both types worked just as well over 10 days.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.