MARINA DEL REY, Calif.,
March 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/
-- On Friday, March 9, 2018, a
press conference was held where Dr. Douglas Kalman PhD, RD, FACN,
FISSN and the UFC's Featherweight fighter Chas Skelly met the press to reveal the results
of a new study that demonstrated that Axiom Foods'
Oryzatein® brown rice protein equals animal-based whey
protein for building and maintaining muscle - for the first time in
pro athletes. Scarlett Full MS, RDN, Axiom's Director of Nutrition
& Research, also appeared to explain the science behind the
product and why the amino acid profile of rice protein acts the
same as animal-based whey protein. The announcement was made
during the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, California. Oryzatein®
rice protein is available a retail nationally in the Growing
Naturals brand.
The same day, ESPN.com reported: "New Study with UFC Fighters
Shows Plant-Based Protein Produces Same Results as Whey in
Athletes."
The study, titled "The Body Composition Effects of Extra Protein
in Elite Mixed Martial Artists Undergoing Frequent Training over a
Six-Week Period," was led by Dr. Douglas
Kalman and Sports Nutritionist Alison Escalante, RD, out of
Florida International University, was
peer-reviewed at The International Society of Sports Nutrition
Annual Conference and published in the Journal of the
International Society of Sports Nutrition (P34) (JISSN). The
products used in the study were Growing Naturals' Rice Protein
(featuring Axiom Food's Oryzatein®) and NutraBio's Whey
Protein.
According to Dr. Douglas Kalman:
"We now have confirmed proof that this rice protein, which is
typically thought of as an inferior protein source, can support the
metabolic and physical needs of athletes, elite athletes just as
well as meat-based options, such as whey protein. With MMA
fighters, we found that this rice protein (Oryzatein®)
supported positive changes in body composition in the same vein
that meat-based protein (whey) does. In order to sustain life, the
body requires essential amino acids to be ingested as the body
cannot manufacture these proteins. The rice protein tested,
Oryzatein® has been found to contain the full array of
essential amino acids, which are needed for human health. Other
plant proteins cannot be as concentrated as Oryzatein®
and may not give the same body positive response when combined with
exercise, unless larger volumes of product are ingested. The MMA
athletes tested often burn upwards of 8,000 calories per day,
whereas the rest of us, typically are lower than 2000 calories per
day, which means that nutrition is that much more paramount for the
stressed training athlete. Oryzatein® supported the
metabolic needs of these elite MMA athletes. In general, using the
rule of thumb, aim to get at least 0.5 grams per pound body weight
protein daily, Oryzatein® fit this role nicely in these
elite MMA professional athletes."
Scarlett Full, an RDN who has
worked on Oryzatein®, the rice protein that was used in
the study, explained: "Like Intel Inside, Oryzatein® is
an organic brown rice protein ingredient found in 1,000's of food
products like chips, bars, shakes, ready-to-drink juices and
feeding formulas. Axiom Food's patented ingredient is used for
sports formulations for building muscle, power, strength and
recovery. This is an FDA GRAS ingredient; meaning it can be used in
food formulations, not just supplements. It's fractioned from
rice without use of petrochemicals, in a proprietary enzymatic
process which allows us to remove most of the starch and carbs so
we can concentrate it up to 90%; rice protein is not high carb. In
the fitness world, there has been a misconception that you can't
build muscle with plant protein because plant proteins are
typically incomplete proteins (low in one or more essential amino
acid). But this study along with others has debunked this notion as
we know that a variety of protein sources consumed in a 24-hour
period can be combined to "complete each other." In addition,
another study published in 2014 showed that the leucine (the amino
acid that triggers tissue building) in rice protein was uniquely
absorbed almost 30% faster than leucine in whey protein, which
scientists believe may be another reason rice protein was equal to
whey for building and maintaining muscle." These studies both
demonstrated the effectiveness of Axiom's Oryzatein® brown rice
protein.
One of the 11 mixed martial artists who was part of this study,
Chas Skelly, UFC Featherweight (17 -
3) said: "I have always used whey protein but, I've always had
problems digesting it; my stomach hurts really badly and I feel
sluggish. During this study, I watched my teammates getting the
same results and saying they felt better than I did. Though I am a
carnivore, hunter and fisherman, this study changed my mind about
protein supplements. Since the study, I've switched, and it does a
lot better for me."
This study is the first time a comparison of plant
protein and animal-based whey protein was studied specifically in
pro athletes. Dr. Kalman studied this same rice protein in 2013
with recreational collegiate athletes. Another study published in
2014 found that only Axiom's patented Oryzatein® brown
rice protein supplies the body with the muscle-building amino acid
leucine to a similar degree and at a faster speed than leucine from
whey protein.
The study was conducted in Spring 2017 at The Combat Club in
Lantana, Florida with the
following participants:
Gilbert "Durinho" Burns, UFC Lightweight
Desmond "The Predator" Greene, UFC Lightweight
Demarques Jackson, Titan FC 45
Jason "King of the Caribbean" Jackson, Titan FB Welterweight
Champion
Anthony "Rumble" Johnson, Former UFC Light Heavyweight
Michael "The Menace" Johnson, UFC Lightweight
Irwin "The Beast" Rivera, Titan FC Bantamweight
Chas "The Scrapper" Skelly, UFC Featherweight
Sean Soriano, Former UFC
Featherweight
Andre "The Asian Sensation" Soukhamthath, UFC Bantamweight
Steve Mowry, Titan FB
Heavyweight
Kay Abadee, VP Marketing of
Growing Naturals said: "This study is sending a shock wave through
the fitness industry, hopefully toppling long-held ideas that
animal-based whey protein is necessary for serious athletes.
Basically, we are finding that animals are no longer necessary to
get our protein."
About: Combat Club is a mixed martial arts
training facility in Lantana, FL,
led by head coaches: Henri Hooft
(Dutch kickboxing), Gilbert Burns
(Brazilian jiu-jitsu), and Greg
Jones (wrestling). Combat Club caters to people of all
levels, from beginner to pro.
About: Growing Naturals, LLC is the maker
of both allergen-friendly single-source pure plant protein powders
from organic brown rice and peas, plus Benefit Blend's A.M. Energy
and P.M. Restore, featuring "one and done" nutrition solutions that
simplify daily rituals. All Growing Naturals plant proteins are FDA
GRAS approved food and the rice protein products feature clinically
tested and patented Oryzatein® inside.
Press Contacts:
Growing Naturals: Alyson Dutch,
Brown + Dutch PR, Inc.
310.456.7151, 191720@email4pr.com
Combat Club: Danny Valentine,
786.280.8431, 191720@email4pr.com
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