Declines in muscle protein synthesis account for short‐term muscle disuse atrophy in humans in the absence of increased muscle protein breakdown

BACKGROUND: We determined the short-term (i.e. 4 days) impacts of disuse atrophy in relation to muscle protein turnover [acute fasted-fed muscle protein synthesis (MPS)/muscle protein breakdown (MPB) and integrated MPS/estimated MPB]. METHODS: Healthy men (N = 9, 22 ± 2 years, body mass index 24 ± 3 kg m^-2 ) underwent 4 day unilateral leg immobilization. Vastus lateralis (VL) muscle thickness (MT) and extensor strength and thigh lean mass (TLM) …