Research
Hormonal
Post-exercise amino acid availability is less effective than insulin at inhibiting muscle protein breakdown (MPB); insulin secretion is primarily stimulated by glucose availability.
To maximize muscle retention after a workout, don't just rely on protein. Consuming carbohydrates alongside protein stimulates insulin, which is highly effective at suppressing muscle breakdown (MPB), potentially more so than amino acids alone in this specific context.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
However, postexercise-increased amino acid availability is less important for inhibiting MPB than insulin, the secretion of which is stimulated most by glucose availability, without itself stimulating MPS.
Why this rating
Stated as a conclusion from the review of tracer studies.
Source
Human muscle protein synthesis and breakdown during and after exercise
Vinod Kumar et al. · Journal of Applied Physiology · 2009
DOI 10.1152/japplphysiol.91481.2008
narrative_reviewCited 289×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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