Figure 1.

Schematic representation of the experimental protocol. Participants underwent a 7-day unilateral leg immobilization protocol which was immediately preceded by no exercise (CON) or 300 eccentric muscle damaging knee extensor contractions performed in both legs (DAM). Loading of orally ingested 70% deuterated water began at 0800 h on day −4 with 8 × 50 mL doses consumed every 1.5 h and body water deuterium enrichment was maintained thereafter with daily 50 mL doses. Bilateral vastus lateralis muscle biopsies and thigh MRI scans were performed before (day 0), and after 2 and 7 days of immobilization, and knee extensor 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) was measured before and after immobilization. Saliva samples were collected daily to measure body water deuterium enrichment and diet diaries were completed 3 days before immobilization and during the first and last 2 days of immobilization.