New York, April 21 (NationPress) Does the origin of protein — from plants or animals — affect muscle development? Researchers stated on Monday that the answer is a resounding no, confirming that whether one follows an omnivorous or vegan diet has no impact on muscle building following weight training.

The research team from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the US also dismissed two additional claims regarding whether total daily protein intake should be evenly distributed throughout the day and whether a moderate yet adequate daily protein intake influences these factors. Their discoveries are detailed in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.

“The long-held notion was that animal-derived protein sources were superior, especially for stimulating muscle growth,” remarked Nicholas Burd, a professor of health and kinesiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Earlier studies that analyzed muscle biopsies after a single meal indicated that an animal-based meal elicited a stronger response for muscle protein synthesis than a vegan meal.

“However, measurements taken after one meal may not accurately reflect the impact of a well-rounded vegan diet over an extended period,” Burd contended.

In this new study, the researchers enlisted 40 healthy, active adults aged between 20 and 40 years.

Participants followed a seven-day “habituation diet” to standardize their nutritional status prior to the clinical trial, after which they were randomly assigned to either a vegan or omnivorous diet.

Approximately 70% of the protein in the omnivorous meals was derived from animal sources, including beef, pork, chicken, dairy, and eggs. The vegan diet was formulated to ensure a balanced amino acid profile, providing complete proteins for the participants.

All participants performed a series of muscle-strengthening exercises in the lab every three days.

Burd was initially taken aback to find that there were no significant differences in muscle protein synthesis rates between those consuming vegan versus omnivorous diets.

He was also surprised to learn that the distribution of protein intake throughout the day did not influence muscle building rates, challenging previous studies that suggested otherwise.

“It was believed that a consistent nutrient delivery throughout the day was preferable,” he noted. “I initially thought that consuming lower quality protein — regarding digestibility and amino acid content — might make a difference. Surprisingly, we demonstrated that it does not matter.”

Now, Burd advises anyone inquiring about the best food for muscle building to focus on what they consume after exercise: “As long as you’re obtaining adequate high-quality protein from your meals, it actually doesn’t make a difference.”