The Association Between The Number Of Meals With Adequate Protein Intake And Maximal Deadlift Strength

Abstract

PURPOSE: To analyze the association between the number of meals with adequate protein intake and maximal deadlift strength in college athletes. METHODS: We evaluated 250 (107 women) college athletes previous to a national contest. Maximal strength was assessed with one repetition maximum (1RM) on deadlift and was adjusted for body mass (kg lifted weight/kg body mass). The protein intake per meal was assessed with 24-h dietary recalls. The reported protein intake was expressed as absolute (g) and relative (g/kg body mass). Adequate protein intake per meal was deemed as ≥20 g and ≥0.3 g/kg. Next, we calculated the number of meals that achieved these thresholds and were grouped as ≤1, 2, 3, ≥4 meals for each criterion. Then, 1RM was compared between groups with and without adjustment for covariables (age [years], lean body mass [kg, bioelectrical impedance], height [cm], sex, relative protein intake [g/kg/d]) for each criterion. RESULTS: For ≥20 g criterion, the ≥4 meals group showed significantly higher 1RM than ≤1 group for the unadjusted model. When it was corrected for age, lean body mass, height, and sex, it remained significant. However, the differences were no longer significant when the model was also adjusted for relative protein intake. As the model was adjusted, the number of meals decreased their contribution to the model. The same pattern was observed with the ≥0.3 g/kg criterion (Table). CONCLUSIONS: The number of meals with adequate protein intake is associated with higher deadlift 1RM. However, its importance decreased when were adjusted for relative protein intake. Therefore, the association between protein intake and deadlift 1RM could be mediated by total relative protein intake, and the number of meals with adequate protein intake could serve as a strategy to eat more protein rather than playing a “timing” role.Table.: Comparison of maximal deadlift strength by number of meals with adequate protein intake.