Anabolic inequality among whole protein foods

Dietary protein consumption in optimization strategies for supporting muscle are shifting from isolated nutrient models to integrated food-first frameworks. This perspective examines the role of food matrix integrity in regulating the primary locus of control of muscle mass in health adults: muscle protein synthesis (MPS). We propose that food processing techniques alter the matrix's physical and chemical architecture, thereby modulating the anabolic potential of whole protein foods. Consequently, identifying optimal feeding strategies requires combining mechanistic insights with food-first approaches, acknowledging that food matrix integrity is a regulatory variable in MPS regulation in support of muscle health.