# Effects of Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng Saponins Extract on the Pharmacokinetics of Whey Protein Absorption, Intestinal Permeability, and Muscle Function: A Pilot Study

## TL;DR

This study shows that Astragalus and Panax saponins improve whey protein absorption, muscle function, and gut health, especially in older adults.

## Contribution

The novel finding is that APS enhances amino acid absorption and muscle function in healthy adults, particularly in older individuals.

## Key findings

- APS increased amino acid absorption, especially in older adults.
- APS improved muscle strength and reduced gut permeability.
- APS had no adverse effects on liver or kidney function.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Whether saponins aid in whey protein supplementation remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the effects of Astragalus and Panax saponins (APS) on whey protein absorption, intestinal permeability, and muscle function in healthy adults across different age groups. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial was conducted with 30 healthy participants equally stratified into three age groups (18–25, 26–59, and 60–80 years), over two phases: a single-dose trial to measure immediate amino acid absorption from whey protein and a 4-week phase combining daily supplementation with resistance training to assess long-term effects on amino acid absorption kinetics, muscle function, and gut health. Results: Immediate APS supplementation resulted in a 6.67% higher area under the curve for valine, 3.62% for leucine, and 0.15% for isoleucine, compared with the placebo. After 4 weeks, APS supplementation significantly increased the absorption of valine (14.07%) and leucine (8.34%) and improved the absorption of isoleucine (6.33%). The effects were most pronounced in older adults (60–80 years), who showed a 12.74% increase in total essential amino acid absorption. APS also caused a substantially greater increase (APS: +5.20% vs. placebo: +2.44%) in grip strength, an increase (APS: +0.85% vs. placebo: +0.68%) in muscle mass, and a reduction in blood zonulin levels (APS: −13.01% vs. placebo: −0.9%), indicating improved muscle function and intestinal barrier integrity, without adverse effects on liver or kidney function. Conclusions: APS supplementation enhances amino acid absorption from whey proteins, muscle function and gut barrier integrity, especially in older adults. These findings highlight its synergistic role in improving protein supplementation efficacy for those with age-related muscle loss.