Wheat protein and muscle building in older men
What it found
In healthy older men, 35 g of wheat protein built muscle protein less than the same amount of casein, but a larger 60 g dose of wheat protein did raise muscle protein building above resting levels.
What they found
Studies in people
Amino acids in blood
The rise in essential amino acids in the blood was greater after whey than after casein or 35 g wheat protein hydrolysate. The rise in leucine was also greater after whey than after 60 g wheat protein hydrolysate, even though both contained 4.4 g leucine.
Muscle protein building
Muscle protein synthesis rates went up after 35 g casein and were higher than after 35 g wheat protein hydrolysate. The 60 g dose of wheat protein hydrolysate also raised muscle protein synthesis above resting levels.
Wheat vs casein
The muscle protein building response to 35 g casein was greater than to the same amount of wheat protein.
What the authors conclude
“Ingesting a larger amount of wheat protein (i.e., 60 g) substantially increases myofibrillar protein synthesis rates in healthy older men.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that the muscle protein building response to 35 g casein is greater than after an equal amount of wheat protein.
- They state that ingesting a larger amount of wheat protein, 60 g, substantially increases muscle protein synthesis rates in healthy older men.
How it was done
The authors note that plant proteins are often said to be weaker than animal proteins at stimulating muscle protein synthesis after eating, but there was little data to support this claim.
Sixty healthy older men, average age 71, were given a drink containing 35 g of wheat protein, 35 g of wheat protein hydrolysate, 35 g of casein, 35 g of whey protein, or 60 g of wheat protein hydrolysate. Blood and muscle samples were taken at regular intervals to measure amino acid levels and muscle protein synthesis.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial was in healthy older men only, so the results may not apply to other groups such as women, younger people, or people with health conditions.
- The study measured muscle protein synthesis over a short period, so it cannot show whether these differences affect muscle mass or strength over time.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Netherlands
The paper
- Title
- Ingestion of Wheat Protein Increases In Vivo Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates in Healthy Older Men in a Randomized Trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Gorissen SH, Horstman AM, Franssen R, et al (2016). Ingestion of Wheat Protein Increases In Vivo Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates in Healthy Older Men in a Randomized Trial. The Journal of nutrition. doi:10.3945/jn.116.231340PubMed 27440260DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error