Protein-energy; Imbalance, Muscle Soreness
Conditions
Brief summary
Load carriage is a common military activity and has been shown to induce acute exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and impair muscle function. Protein supplementation can accelerate muscle recovery by attenuating EIMD and muscle function loss. This study investigated the impact of an additional daily bolus of protein prior to sleep throughout training on acute muscle recovery following a load carriage test in British Army recruits. Muscle function (maximal jump height), perceived muscle soreness and urinary markers of muscle damage were assessed before (PRE), immediately post (POST), 24-hours post (24h-POST) and 40-hours post (40h-POST) a load carriage test.
Detailed description
British Army basic training (BT) is physically demanding with new recruits completing multiple bouts of physical activity each day with limited recovery. Load carriage is one of the most physically demanding BT activities and has been shown to induce acute exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and impair muscle function. Protein supplementation can accelerate muscle recovery by attenuating EIMD and muscle function loss. This study investigated the impact of an additional daily bolus of protein prior to sleep throughout training on acute muscle recovery following a load carriage test in United Kingdom (UK) British Army recruits. A mixed group (men/women) over over 120 new recruits were randomised to dietary control (CON), carbohydrate placebo (PLA), moderate (20g; MOD) or high (60g; HIGH) protein supplementation. Muscle function (maximal jump height), perceived muscle soreness and urinary markers of muscle damage were assessed before (PRE), immediately post (POST), 24-hours post (24h-POST) and 40-hours post (40h-POST) a load carriage test. The underlying aim of this study was to assess whether additional protein intake could attenuate aspects of muscle damage from an acute load carriage test including muscle function, muscle soreness and biomarkers of muscle damage during short term recovery.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTHigh protein intake
The participants received a 60g whey protein bolus each evening prior to sleep pre and post a military load carriage test.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTModerate protein intake
The participants received a 20g whey protein bolus each evening prior to sleep pre and post a military load carriage test.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTCarbohydrate maltodextrin placebo
The participants received an isocaloric carbohydrate bolus each evening prior to sleep pre and post a military load carriage test.
OTHERControl no supplementation
Control group, no supplementation, only basic training
Sponsors
University of Exeter
Anglia Ruskin University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Enrolled into British Army basic training * Medically fit to train and complete the load carriage test
Exclusion criteria
* Not taking any other nutritional supplement * Pregnant
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in lower body muscle function | 40-hours | The change in maximal vertical jump height in participants before and after the load carriage test |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The change in urinary myoglobin | 40-hours | The relative change in concentration of urinary myoglobin (ng/ml) in participants before and after the load carriage test |
| The change in urinary 3-methylhistidine | 40-hours | The relative change in concentration of urinary 3-methylhistidine (nmol/ml) in participants before and after the load carriage test |
| The change in perceived muscle soreness | 40-hours | The relative change in perceived muscle soreness assessed via visual analogue scale. The participants were asked to record their perceived muscle soreness using a 0-10 Likert scale (e.g., 0=no pain, 10=severe pain that limits the ability to move). |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed