Protein Requirements Of Athletes Research Articles

Nitrogen Balance in Female Japanese National Handball Players During Training Camp.

Protein requirements for athletes are affected by various factors, including distribution and quality (i. e., amino acid composition) of protein ingestion throughout the day. However, little is known about the protein requirements of elite female athletes engaging in team sports. This study aimed to determine the nitrogen balance and distribution of protein and amino acid intake in elite female handball athletes during training camp. In observational study design, 11 female Japanese national handball players (age 26.9 ± 4.9 years) participated in a 5-days experiment. Nitrogen balance was calculated from the daily protein intake assessed by dietary records and urinary nitrogen excretion. Amino acid intake amounts were organized based on six eating occasions. The average and population-safe protein intake for zero nitrogen balance were estimated as 1.57 and 1.93 g/kg/day, respectively. The protein intake at breakfast, lunch, and dinner and the leucine intake in the three main meals and the morning snack were higher than is recommended by current guidelines for maximizing muscle protein synthesis. The population-safe protein intake in elite female handball athletes was within the range of the current recommendations for athletes (1.2–2.0 g/kg/day). Our results show that it may be possible to improve the distribution and quality of protein ingestion after exercise and before sleep.

Protein intake for athletes and active adults: Current concepts and controversies

AbstractThe demands of physical exertion mean that protein requirements for athletes and active adults are now accepted as being greater than sedentary populations and those described by population reference intakes of ~0.8 g protein per kg of body mass per day (g/kg/day). Recent scholarly reviews and the latest guidelines for nutrition and athletic performance from the American College of Sports Medicine suggest intakes ranging from 1.2‐2.0 g/kg/day whether performing aerobic or resistance exercise, with the higher range of intakes appropriate for the latter. Specific situations of hypoenergetic diet or injury likely require greater protein intakes in order to preserve lean body mass (LBM), which is often paramount in athletes. The optimal dose of protein per meal is 0.25–0.40 g/kg when aiming to maximally stimulate muscle protein synthesis, a marker of repair, growth and adaptation, but multifactorial interactions between protein source, meal timing and pattern of distribution, and macronutrient co‐ingestion around exercise influence recommendations on a meal‐by‐meal basis. Longer term studies are required to confirm the efficacy of these recommendations, which are primarily inferred from data from acute (<24 hours) studies. Notwithstanding the positive effects on LBM of higher protein intakes combined with exercise, it would be remiss not to consider potential adverse effects of long‐term high‐protein intakes, although these concerns are rather preliminary at present. Therefore, within the broad framework of recommended ranges and being cognisant of overall energy and other macronutrient intakes, a personalised and periodised approach to nutrition is required depending on an individual's sport, training volume, phase and goals.

Protein Requirements for Athletes

Ms. Coleman is affiliated with The Sport Clinic, 4444 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501; E-mail: [email protected]. Ms. Coleman has disclosed that she is on the Board of EAS Academy and is a speaker for the Gatorade Sports Science Institute.

Protein Intake: Effect of Timing

Differences in protein requirements for athletes and nonathletes, and different types of athletes (i.e., endurance vs. strength/power) are well acknowledged. This has led many athletes to use protein supplements as a means of achieving required protein intakes. Recent research has begun to examine the importance of protein timing. Specifically, does it make a difference when the protein is ingested in regards to augmenting the acute physiological response to a training session or in enhancing recovery from exercise. This review focuses on the timing of protein intake and its effects on skeletal muscle remodeling.