more protein = more growth
Dietary protein
A VLCARB is almost always relatively high in protein. There is evidence that
high protein intake increases protein synthesis by increasing systemic amino acid availability [21], which is a potent stimulus of muscle protein synthesis [22]. During weight loss, higher protein intake reduces loss of muscle mass and increases loss of body fat [9]. It has been proposed that the branched-chain amino acid leucine interacts with the insulin signaling pathway to stimulate downstream control of protein synthesis, resulting in maintenance of muscle mass during periods of restricted energy intake [10]. A recent study by Harber et al. reported that a VLCARB/high-protein diet increases skeletal muscle protein synthesis despite a dramatic reduction in insulin levels [8].
8. Harber MP, Schenk S, Barkan AL, Horowitz JF: Effects of dietary carbohydrate restriction with high protein intake on protein metabolism and the somatotropic axis.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005, 90(9):5175-81.
9. Layman DK, Evans E, Baum JI, Seyler J, Erickson DJ, Boileau RA: Dietary protein and exercise have additive effects on body composition during weight loss in adult women.
J Nutr 2005, 135:1903-10.
10. Layman DK, Walker DA: Potential importance of leucine in treatment of obesity and the metabolic syndrome.
J Nutr 2006, 136:319S-23S.
21. Motil KJ, Matthews DE, Bier DM, Burke JF, Munro HN, Young VR: Whole-body leucine and lysine metabolism: response to dietary protein intake in young men.
Am J Physiol 1981, 240:E712-E721.
22. Paddon-Jones D, Sheffield-Moore M, Zhang XJ, Volpi E, Wolf SE, Aarsland A, Ferrando AA, Wolfe RR: Amino acid ingestion improves muscle protein synthesis in the young and elderly.
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2004, 286:E321-E328.
http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/3/1/9