Eating frequency and protein synthesis?

Eating frequency can affect muscle protein synthesis, and it appears that eating less frequently might be more beneficial for protein synthesis rather than eating more often. Dr. Layne Norton discussed a phenomenon called the muscle protein synthetic refractory period, where once the protein synthesis mechanism is triggered, it runs for a certain period and then needs time to reset. This finding led him to adjust his eating frequency, concluding that less frequent meals might be more effective for sustained protein synthesis, despite initially believing that more frequent meals would be beneficial 1.

Moreover, the synthesis of muscle protein is an ATP-dependent process, meaning it consumes energy within the cell. Norton's research indicated that after a peak in protein synthesis, there's an energy demand in cells that seems to curtail further protein synthesis, suggesting there's a practical limit to the benefits of continuous or very frequent protein intake 1.

This counterintuitive finding suggests that the traditional approach of frequent protein intake to constantly stimulate muscle protein synthesis might not be as effective as once thought, and suggests timing and overall intake of protein are more crucial than merely increasing meal frequency.