According to a joint study by the French company Roquette and the University of Burgundy, pea protein supplements are comparable to whey protein in increasing biceps thickness. For this study, 161 men aged 18-25 were selected for 12 weeks of resistance training. The participants randomly added either pea protein or whey protein to their diets, and the results showed that both resulted in about the same increase in biceps thickness.
Researchers believe that pea protein consumption can promote biceps growth, especially in people who are novices or re-weight training. According to statistics, whey protein and pea protein products have advantages for different athletes compared to placebo. Other customer groups may also be interested in these proteins, such as reducing the aging process and maintaining muscle mass.
Pea protein isolate is popular with product manufacturers because it offers clean-label, allergy-free ingredients, and pea protein costs less than other proteins. In addition, pea protein has also received attention in the field of sports nutrition because it is rich in lysine, arginine, and branched-chain amino acids. Pea protein contains approximately 8.7% arginine, which is considered a conditionally essential amino acid because of its limited rate of synthesis. It is involved in nitrogen metabolism during growth and cell division, and arginine is also a precursor to creatine.
The researchers also said that because there was no significant difference between the two groups, vegetable pea protein could replace whey as a basic dietary product. Also, muscle strength increased in each group over time, but there was no significant difference between the groups. For athletes, pea protein may also be an option over whey, as it has a similar effect on muscle as whey protein. In addition, for the elderly with sarcopenia, appropriate physical exercise and special and appropriate diet may be adopted, and pea protein isolate can be part of the diet, but the effect needs more research to confirm .
Another highlight is that the production process of pea protein is environmentally friendly, which is critical in today’s global ecology. In addition, the “hypoallergenic” and “GMO-free” properties of pea protein differentiate it from the global vegetable protein market and have potential for development.