Whey Protein Before And After Exercise Alters Gene Expression

The researcher found the levels of a protein called cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdk2) mRNA increased significantly after the resistance bout only in the whey protein group. What’s so special about this protein called cdk2?This protein is a marker of satellite cell activation! Remember, satellite cells are baby muscle stem cells that are sitting around waiting to get activated so they can merge with muscle to increase muscle mass. Interestingly, the increase in cdk2 remained elevated after 21 weeks of resistance training, but again only in the whey protein group. Therefore, it seems evident that protein ingestion close to the resistance exercise bout increases cdk2 mRNA expression and is going to enhance satellite cell activity. In a separate research study, when scientists altered gene of mice to have reduced muscle gene expression of cdk2 levels, they were scrawny compared to the normal group.3 Other studies have shown that cdk2 inhibitors increase myostatin levels and inhibit satellite cells from being activated.4 So taking whey protein before and after exercise can really augment your strength and muscle mass gains, primarily mediated through enhanced satellite cell activations and it seems that as little as 15 grams of whey is all that is needed! This is the first study that has reported that whey protein shakes before and immediately after exercise enhanced muscle satellite cells. An interesting finding was both groups ate the same amount of protein during the study; the only difference was the timing of the protein!