Protein Nutrition for Sleep Deprivation

(PSL Trial)

Overseen By Jess A Gwin, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Disqualifiers: Metabolic, Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, Substance abuse, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how different protein consumption patterns affect muscle health and whole-body protein balance during sleep deprivation, similar to military conditions. Participants will undergo a period of reduced sleep, followed by recovery while consuming protein either evenly throughout the day or in a skewed manner. The trial seeks healthy adults who regularly exercise and do not have sleep disorders. This research could lead to improved nutrition strategies for recovery after sleep loss, particularly for military personnel. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative research that could enhance recovery strategies for those experiencing sleep deprivation.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you must refrain from alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, and dietary supplements during the study.

What prior data suggests that this protocol is safe?

Research has shown that protein is generally safe and easy for most people to digest. One study found that participants who took protein supplements experienced better digestion and improved sleep compared to those who did not. No major health issues emerged. Another study discovered that consuming protein before bed was well-digested and aided in muscle building overnight.

These findings suggest that protein, whether consumed before sleep or during the day, is safe for most people. However, since everyone's body is different, consulting a healthcare professional before changing your diet is important. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how different protein intake patterns might help people recover from sleep deprivation. Unlike traditional treatments that focus on medications or behavioral strategies to improve sleep, this trial looks at nutrition as a tool for recovery. By testing both even and skewed protein distributions throughout the day, researchers hope to discover whether adjusting dietary protein can influence recovery speed and effectiveness. This could open new, non-pharmaceutical avenues for managing sleep deprivation.

What evidence suggests that this trial's protein nutrition treatments could be effective for sleep deprivation?

This trial will compare two different distributions of protein intake to assess their effects on sleep deprivation recovery. Research on protein intake and sleep has shown mixed results. Some studies suggest that increased protein consumption can improve sleep quality, particularly for those dieting. For instance, individuals on high-protein diets while losing weight reported better sleep. However, reviews of multiple studies have not found a clear link between protein intake and improved sleep overall. The distribution of protein across meals might be significant, as consuming protein evenly throughout the day has aided muscle recovery after exercise. Overall, while some signs are promising, the evidence remains unclear about protein's effect on sleep. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jess A Gwin, PhD

Principal Investigator

United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy adults aged 18-39 with a BMI under 30, who exercise regularly and have stable weight without chronic illness or sleep disorders. Women must have normal menstrual cycles or be on low-dose hormonal contraceptives. Participants can't smoke, drink alcohol, caffeine, use supplements during the study, and must not be pregnant or breastfeeding.

Inclusion Criteria

You have been regularly doing aerobic or strength exercises at least 2 days a week for the past 6 months.

Your weight has stayed about the same for the past 2 months, give or take 3 kilograms.

I am healthy with no chronic illness, injury, or sleep disorder.

Exclusion Criteria

You have had problems with lidocaine or a similar numbing medication in the past.

You are currently using drugs or alcohol, as reported by you or confirmed by a doctor.

Unwilling or unable to adhere to study physical restrictions or sleep prescriptions

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Sleep Satiated Phase

Participants undergo a 7-day phase with 7-9 hours of sleep per day to establish baseline conditions

7 days

Daily monitoring

Sleep Restriction Phase

Participants experience a 4-day phase with military-relevant sleep restriction of approximately 4 hours per day

4 days

Daily monitoring

Recovery Phase

Participants undergo a 3-day recovery phase with 7-9 hours of sleep per day, consuming 1.6 g protein/kg/day in either an even or skewed distribution

3 days

Daily monitoring

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the intervention phases

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Protein Nutrition During Recovery

Trial Overview The study tests if different protein nutrition distributions during recovery from military-like sleep loss help muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and whole body protein balance (WBPB). It involves a week of normal sleep, four days of restricted sleep (~4h/night), followed by three days' recovery with controlled protein intake.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Protein Nutrition Even Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Volunteers will consume 1.6 g protein/kg/d as an even (\~0.4/0.4/0.4/0.4 g/kg) distribution across breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack.

Group II: Protein Nutrition Skewed Active Control 1 Intervention

Volunteers will consume 1.6 g protein/kg/d as a skewed (\~0.11/0.27/1.15/0.07 g/kg) distribution across breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

67

Recruited

3,700+

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36083207/

Protein intake and its effect on sleep outcomes This systematic review and meta-analysis indicate there is no clear relationship between increased protein intake and sleep.

2. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/81/3/333/6694939?login=false

Protein intake and its effect on sleep outcomes This systematic review and meta-analysis indicate there is no clear relationship between increased protein intake and sleep.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4763499/

Higher-protein diets improve indexes of sleep in energy ... The consumption of a greater proportion of energy from protein while dieting may improve sleep in overweight and obese adults.

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261561424000906

Access to a pre-sleep protein snack increases daily energy ... Providing patients access to a pre-sleep snack resulted in a 17% (11 ± 9 g) higher daily protein intake (0.81 ± 0.29 g·kg−1·d−1) when compared to the usual care ...

5. gssiweb.org gssiweb.org/en/sports-science-exchange/article/fueling-performance-starts-with-sleep--how-sleep-loss-undermines-nutritional-goals

FUELING PERFORMANCE STARTS WITH SLEEP Taken together, current evidence strongly supports the relationship between sleep deprivation, increased cortisol production and downstream disruptions in fat ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6415027/

The Impact of Pre-sleep Protein Ingestion on the Skeletal ... Protein ingested prior to sleep is effectively digested and absorbed during overnight sleep, thereby increasing overnight muscle protein synthesis rates.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10079511/

Efficacy and safety assessment of protein supplement There was improvement in digestive behavior and sleep quality in protein supplement group than placebo group. There were no clinically significant changes in ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666379123005402

The anabolic response to protein ingestion during recovery ... We show that the ingestion of 100 g protein results in a greater and more prolonged (>12 h) anabolic response when compared to the ingestion of 25 g protein.

9. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1262044/full

Pre-sleep protein supplementation does not improve ... This study assessed the influence of a daily bolus of protein prior to sleep on performance adaptations, body composition and recovery in British Army recruits.

10. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831322007803

Effects of Diet on Sleep Quality Studies provide some evidence for a role of certain dietary patterns and foods in the promotion of high-quality sleep.