Vegetable protein derived from potatoes can be as effective for muscle synthesis as animal milk, suggests a new study by Dutch scientists, reports Portal Potatoes News.
According to a paper published in "Medicine and science in sports”, potatoes can be just as reliable a source of protein for athletes looking to build muscle mass as animal milk.
Researchers at Maastricht University in the Netherlands found that eating 30 grams of potato-derived protein concentrate after strength training significantly increased the rate of muscle protein synthesis. The level of synthesis is identical to that obtained after ingestion of an equivalent amount of milk protein concentrate.
Lead investigator Luke J.C. van Loon, PhD, professor of nutritional physiology at the Maastricht University Medical Center, says: “In general, plant-derived proteins are considered to be less anabolic due to their lower digestibility and incomplete amino acid profile. Our results show that 30g of potato-derived protein promotes muscle growth and repair at rest and during post-workout recovery.”