Background: Both aerobic exercise and whey protein can improve glucose regulation. The purpose of this study was to investigate how a single bout of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise and whey protein, independently, as well as when combined, influence glycemia during an oral glucose tolerance test in sedentary, young men. Methods: Healthy males (n = 11) completed four randomized trials: no exercise/no whey protein (R); exercise (EX; walking at 70% VO_2max for 60 min); 50 g of whey protein (W); and exercise combined with 50 g of whey protein (EXW). Each trial included a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) that was completed after an overnight fast. Blood samples were collected over a two-hour period during the OGTT. For EX and EXW, the exercise was performed the evening before the OGTT and the 50 g of whey protein was dissolved in 250 mL of water and was consumed as a preload 30 min prior to the OGTT. For R and EX, participants consumed 250 mL of water prior to the OGTT. Plasma samples were analyzed for glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) and glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and postprandial incremental area under the curve (iAUC) was calculated for each. Results: Glucose iAUC was reduced during W (− 32.9 ± 22.3 mmol/L) compared to R (122.7 ± 29.8 mmol/L; p < 0.01) and EX (154.3 ± 29.2 mmol/L; p < 0.01). Similarly, glucose iAUC was reduced for EXW (17.4 ± 28.9 mmol/L) compared to R and EX (p < 0.01 for both). There were no differences in iAUC for insulin, C-peptide, GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon between the four trials. Insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, GIP, and GLP-1 were elevated during the whey protein preload period for W and EXW compared to EX and R (p < 0.01). There were no differences for insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, GIP, or GLP-1 between trials for the remaining duration of the OGTT. Conclusions: Glucose responses during an oral glucose tolerance test were improved for W compared to EX. There were no additional improvements in glucose responses when vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise was combined with whey protein (EXW).

Background: Individuals observe Ramadan fasting for ~11 h per day for 28–30 days, which can negatively affect lean mass. Resistance training or increased protein intake can potentially preserve lean mass in these individuals. Methods: Twenty-three young and healthy adult Muslim men were divided into three groups: Ramadan fasting (RAM), Ramadan fasting combined with resistance training (RAM + RT), and Ramadan fasting combined with 30 g of daily whey protein (RAM + WH). Participants’ body mass, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, fat mass, and lean mass were measured the week prior to and during the last week of Ramadan via a stadiometer and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results: Body mass (kg) was decreased for all three groups (RAM = −1%, RAM + RT = −1%, RAM + WH = −1.3%; p = 0.033), though there were no differences between groups. Lean mass (kg) was decreased for all three groups (RAM = −1%, RAM + RT = −1%, RAM + WH = −2%; p = 0.013), though there were no differences between groups. No differences were observed for body weight, BMI, or body fat percentage. Conclusions: These results indicate resistance training or whey protein did not provide any advantage for preserving lean mass in individuals participating in Ramadan fasting.

Skeletal muscle physiology is regulated by microRNA that are localized within skeletal muscle (myomiRs). This study investigated how the expression of myomiRs and genes regulating skeletal muscle mass and myogenesis are influenced in response to acute and consecutive days of exercise-related signaling using the exercise mimetic, formoterol, in vitro. Human skeletal muscle cells were proliferated and differentiated for 6 days. Experimental conditions included: (a) control, (b) acute formoterol stimulation (AFS), and (c) consecutive days of formoterol stimulation (CFS). For AFS, myotubes were treated with 30 nM of formoterol for three hours on day 6 of differentiation, and this was immediately followed by RNA extraction. For CFS, myotubes were treated with 30 nM of formoterol for three hours on two or three consecutive days, with RNA extracted immediately following the final three-hour formoterol treatment. We observed increased myomiR expression for both AFS and CFS. AFS appeared to promote myogenesis, but this effect was lost with CFS. Additionally, we observed increased expression of genes involved in metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis, and muscle protein degradation in response to AFS. myomiR and gene expression appear to be sensitive to acute and long-term exercise-related stimuli, and this likely contributes to the regulation of skeletal muscle mass.

Potential variability in neuromuscular function or physiology throughout the menstrual cycle (MC) or a cycle of using hormonal contraceptives may affect muscular performance variables that are relevant to exercise, training, or sport. Collegiate softball players (n = 11) that reported using and not using hormonal contraceptives completed three testing sessions during their respective early follicular, ovulatory, and mid luteal phases of the MC or early, mid, or late phases of their hormonal contraceptive cycle (HCC). Each testing session included a series of performance tests: countermovement jump on a force plate, 15-yard sprints, velocity assessment of the back squat performed at 70% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM), one-repetition maximum bench press, and 70% 1-RM repetitions to failure testing on the bench press. No significant differences were found for any of the performance tests between the three phases, though performance on most tasks peaked during the mid luteal/late phases of the MC/HCC. It is important to note that this study was underpowered and this could have masked any observed differences. Collectively, muscular performance was not significantly different throughout phases of the MC or HCC in these athletes, indicating that potential hormonal variability throughout the MC or HCC did not seem to have an effect on performance outcomes in this study.

Background: Both aerobic exercise and whey protein can improve glucose regulation. The purpose of this study was to investigate how a single bout of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise and whey protein, independently, as well as when combined, influence glycemia during an oral glucose tolerance test in sedentary, young men.Methods: Healthy males (n = 11) completed four randomized trials: no exercise/no whey protein (R); exercise (EX; walking at 70% VO_2max for 60 min); 50 g of whey protein (W); and exercise combined with 50 g of whey protein (EXW). Each trial included a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) that was completed after an overnight fast, and blood samples were collected over a two-hour period during the OGTT. For EX and EXW, the exercise bout was performed the evening before the OGTT. Additionally, for W and EXW, the 50 g of whey protein was consumed as a preload 30 minutes prior to the OGTT. Plasma samples were analyzed for glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) and glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and postprandial incremental area under the curve (iAUC) was calculated for each. Results: Glucose iAUC was reduced during W (-32.9 ± 22.3 mmol/L) compared to R (122.7 ± 29.8 mmol/L; p < 0.01) and EX (154.3 ± 29.2 mmol/L; p < 0.01). Similarly, glucose iAUC was reduced for EXW (17.4 ± 28.9 mmol/L) compared to R and EX (p < 0.01 for both). There were no differences in iAUC for insulin, C-peptide, GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon between the four trials. Insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, GIP, and GLP-1 were elevated during the whey protein preload period for W and EXW compared to EX and R (p < 0.01). There were no differences for insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, GIP, or GLP-1 between trials for the remaining duration of the OGTT.Conclusions: Glucose responses during an oral glucose tolerance test were improved for W compared to EX. There were no additional improvements in glucose responses when vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise was combined with whey protein (EXW).

We examined the effects of combining resistance training (RT) with semaglutide use on body composition, metabolism, strength, and muscle thickness and quality. Men and women (n = 11) aged 30–55 years participated in this study. Measurements included resting metabolic rate, body composition, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, ultrasound-derived muscle thickness and quality of upper and lower extremity musculature, chest press and leg press 10-repetition maximum (10RM), and handgrip strength. Participants continued their medication use for four weeks without RT (GLP-1), and this was followed by an eight-week RT protocol alongside continued medication use (GLP-1+RT). Body mass decreased 0.991 kg (p = 0.019) and 2.627 kg (p = 0.011) during GLP-1 and GLP-1+RT, respectively. Fat mass and body fat percentage decreased significantly during GLP-1+RT (−3.355 kg, p = 0.008 and −3.073%, p = 0.013, respectively). There was a non-significant increase (1.1 kg) in fat-free mass. Muscle thickness and quality were maintained. Leg press and chest press 10RM improved during GLP-1+RT (p < 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively). This exploratory study provides context regarding RT’s effects on fat-free mass, strength, and size and quality of muscle in individuals using semaglutide.