Insect derived proteins in sports nutrition: CENTURION
Can insect derived protein in future sports and clinical nutrition products as well as an in products aiming to provide an alternative to the general meat and dairy based products?
Consumption of sufficient dietary protein is fundamental to skeletal muscle mass maintenance and overall health. Conventional animal-based protein sources such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy are considered high-quality sources of dietary protein. However, the production of sufficient amounts of these conventional animal-based proteins to meet future global food demands will be challenging. Consequently, there is a great interest in more sustainable alternatives for these high-quality protein sources. Edible insects have recently been proposed as a high quality source of dietary protein. Insects are produced on a more viable and sustainable commercial scale and, as such, may contribute to ensuring global food security.
Recently, we have shown that the protein content and amino acid composition of a wide variety of insect proteins do not differ from high-quality animal based proteins. Consequently, insect derived proteins seem to represent a protein source that combines high quality with a (more) sustainable production.
Though insect proteins have been suggested as a solution to secure future global dietary protein needs, there are no data to support the bioavailability of insect derived proteins and their capacity to stimulate muscle protein synthesis rates in vivo in humans. This project showed that mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) derived protein is characterized by a high protein content, and high-quality amino acid composition. Furthermore, following ingestion, mealworm protein was well digested and resulted in a strong increase of amino acid concentrations in the blood (comparable to other high-quality protein sources).
However, when ingesting the protein after 45 minutes of running exercise, no increase in postexercise muscle protein synthesis rates was detected when compared to ingesting no protein in a group of healthy, young men and women. In conclusion, mealworm protein appears a high-quality protein that is well digested and absorbed, but it does not seem to induce a specific benefit for muscle reconditioning in the first hours after running endurance exercise.
Other projects
In each PPP project, research institutions, businesses and healthcare organisations work together on a specific health challenge. Browse the full project overview.
Bekijk de programma’s
Binnen onze programma’s werken bedrijven, kennisinstellingen en regionale partners samen aan innovaties die bijdragen aan betere gezondheid en zorg.
Bekijk de partnerschappen
Strategische publiek-private partnerschappen (PPP's) zijn meerjarige samenwerkingen tussen bedrijven, kennisinstellingen en andere partijen.
Hoe kunnen we je helpen?
Heb je een vraag of wil je meer weten over Health Holland? We brengen je graag in contact met de juiste mensen, kennis en mogelijkheden om gezondheidsinnovatie te versnellen.
We have received your message
We will contact you within 3 to 4 working days. If your question is urgent, please contact us directly. Below is the contact option that best matches your subject.
Start again
Something went wrong while sending the form. Please try again.