(OR06-06-23) Improved Strength Recovery and Reduced Fatigue with Suppressed Plasma Myostatin Following Supplementation of a Vicia faba Hydrolysate, in a Healthy Male Population

Objectives: Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) due to intense physical exertion, or a change in physical activity, can negatively impact contractility and performance. Previously, NPN_1 (PeptiStrong™), a Vicia faba derived hydrolysate discovered through artificial intelligence (AI), was preclinically shown to help maintain muscle health, indicating the potential to mediate the effect of DOMS and molecular markers of muscle damage to improve recovery and performance. Here, we assessed the effect of NPN_1, on strength recovery and markers of muscle health, injury and function following strenuous resistance type exercise.

Methods: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 30 healthy male (30 - 45 y) volunteers (NCT05159375). Following initial strength testing on day 0, subjects were administered either placebo or NPN_1 (2.4g/day). On day 14, muscular fatigue and DOMS was induced using resistance exercise. Strength recovery and fatigue were measured on day 16 and 17. Biomarker analysis was performed on blood samples collected prior to DOMS-inducing routine and 0, 2, 48 and 72-hours following completion of the routine.

Results: Following initial strength testing on day 0, subjects were administered either placebo or NPN_1 (2.4 g/day). On day 14, DOMS was induced using resistance exercise. Strength recovery and fatigue were measured after 48 and 72 h. Biomarker analysis was performed on blood samples collected prior to DOMS induction and 0, 2, 48 and 72 h post-DOMS induction. NPN_1 supplementation significantly improved strength recovery compared to placebo over the 72 h period post-resistance exercise (p = 0.027), measured by peak torque per bodyweight, but not at individual timepoints. Muscle fatigue was significantly reduced over the same 72 h period (p = 0.041), as was myostatin expression (p = 0.006). A concomitant increase in other acute markers regulating muscle protein synthesis, regeneration and myoblast differentiation was also observed.

Conclusions: NPN_1 significantly improves strength recovery and restoration, reduces fatigue and positively modulates alterations in markers related to muscle homeostasis.

Funding Sources: This research received no external funding.