Do Athletes Need More Dietary Protein and Amino Acids?

Lemon, Peter W.R.

doi:10.1123/ijsn.5.s1.s39

Cited by 73 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 53 publications

(59 reference statements)

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“…Additional protein needs have been suggested for several types of strength and endurance exercise (7,26,27). In the present study, significant gains in net protein accretion were detected for the treatment receiving protein, even with what would amount to a moderate increase in protein intake (0.13 g·kg Ϫ1 ).…”

Section: Post-exercise Intake Alters Protein Homeostatiscontrasting

confidence: 39%

“…Previously, Lemon (26) suggested that athletes have greater protein requirements than sedentary individuals and proposed that the current RDA of 0.8 g·kg Ϫ1 ·d Ϫ1 be increased to between 1.4 and 1.8 in strength athletes and to between 1.2 and 1.4 in endurance athletes (26). Additional protein needs have been suggested for several types of strength and endurance exercise (7,26,27).…”

Section: Post-exercise Intake Alters Protein Homeostatismentioning

confidence: 97%

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Postexercise protein intake enhances whole-body and leg protein accretion in humans

Levenhagen

Carr

Carlson

et al. 2002

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

146

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Section: Post-exercise Intake Alters Protein Homeostatiscontrasting

confidence: 39%

Section: Post-exercise Intake Alters Protein Homeostatismentioning

confidence: 97%

Postexercise protein intake enhances whole-body and leg protein accretion in humans

Levenhagen

Carr

Carlson

et al. 2002

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

146

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show abstract

“…The protein breakdown, resulting in BCAA degradation, increases during intense exercise with a subsequent alanine release increment (Consoli et al, 1990;Lemon, 1995;MacLean et al, 1996), in fact transamination of pyruvate forms alanine transferring the α-amino group and this reaction involves glutamate and α-ketoglutarate. In agreement with our previous observations (De Palo et al, 1993, 1996) MacLean et al (1996 demonstrated a significantly greater amount of alanine during exercise in a BCAA trial than in a control trial.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasma lactate, GH and GH-binding protein levels in exercise following BCAA supplementation in athletes

et al. 2001

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Branched chain amino acids (BCAA) stimulate protein synthesis, and growth hormone (GH) is a mediator in this process. A pre-exercise BCAA ingestion increases muscle BCAA uptake and use. Therefore after one month of chronic BCAA treatment (0.2 gkg(-1) of body weight), the effects of a pre-exercise oral supplementation of BCAA (9.64 g) on the plasma lactate (La) were examined in triathletes, before and after 60 min of physical exercise (75% of VO2 max). The plasma levels of GH (pGH) and of growth hormone binding protein (pGHBP) were also studied. The end-exercise La of each athlete was higher than basal. Furthermore, after the chronic BCAA treatment, these end-exercise levels were lower than before this treatment (8.6+/-0.8 mmol L(-1) after vs 12.8+/-1.0 mmol L(-1) before treatment; p < 0.05 [mean +/- std. err.]). The end-exercise pGH of each athlete was higher than basal (p < 0.05). Furthermore, after the chronic treatment, this end-exercise pGH was higher (but not significantly, p = 0.08) than before this treatment (12.2+/-2.0 ng mL(-1) before vs 33.8+/-13.6 ngmL(-1) after treatment). The end-exercise pGHBP was higher than basal (p < 0.05); and after the BCAA chronic treatment, this end-exercise pGHBP was 738+/-85 pmol L(-1) before vs 1691+/-555 pmol L(-1) after. pGH/pGHBP ratio was unchanged in each athlete and between the groups, but a tendency to increase was observed at end-exercise. The lower La at the end of an intense muscular exercise may reflect an improvement of BCAA use, due to the BCAA chronic treatment. The chronic BCAA effects on pGH and pGHBP might suggest an improvement of muscle activity through protein synthesis.

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“…The idea that athletes need a high-protein diet is intuitively attractive, and indeed there is evidence that the requirement for protein is increased by physical activity (Lemon, 1995). Muscles consist largely of protein and their involvement is fundamental to performance in all sports.…”

Section: Protein and Amino Acidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional ergogenic aids and exercise performance

Maughan

1999

Nutr. Res. Rev.

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The use of nutritional supplements in sport is widespread and few serious athletes do not, at some stage in their career, succumb to the temptation to experiment with one or more nutritional supplements. Nutritional ergogenic aids are aimed primarily at enhancing performance (either by affecting energy metabolism or by an effect on the central nervous system), at increasing lean body mass or muscle mass by stimulation of protein synthesis and at reducing body fat content. Although not strictly ergogenic (i.e. capable of enhancing work performance), supplements aimed at increasing resistance to infection and improving general health are seen by athletes as important in reducing the interruptions to training that minor illness and infection can cause. Creatine is perhaps the most widely used supplement in sport at the moment. Supplementation can increase muscle creatine phosphate levels and, although not all published studies show positive results, there is much evidence that performance of short-term high-intensity exercise can be improved by supplementation. Ingestion of large doses of bicarbonate can enhance performance of exercise where metabolic acidosis may be a limiting factor, but there is a signi®cant risk of adverse gastrointestinal side effects. Caffeine can also improve performance, in part by a stimulation of fatty acid mobilization and sparing of the body's limited carbohydrate stores, but also via direct effects on muscle and possibly by central nervous system effects on the perception of effort and fatigue. Carnitine plays an essential role in fatty acid oxidation in muscle but, although supplements are used by athletes, there is no good evidence of a bene®cial effect of supplementation. None of these products contravenes the International Olympic Committee regulations on doping in sports, although caffeine is not permitted above a urine concentration of 12 mg/l. Supplementation is particularly prevalent among strength and power athletes, where an increase in muscle mass can bene®t performance. Protein supplements have not been shown to be effective except in those rare cases where the dietary protein intake is otherwise inadequate. Individual amino acids, especially ornithine, arginine and glutamine, are also commonly used, but their bene®t is not supported by documented evidence. Cr and hydroxymethylbutyrate are also used by strength athletes, but again there are no well-controlled studies to provide evidence of a bene®cial effect. Athletes use a wide variety of supplements aimed at improving or maintaining general health and vitamin and mineral supplementation is widespread. There is a theoretical basis, and limited evidence, to support the use of antioxidant vitamins and glutamine during periods of intensive training, but further evidence is required before the use of these supplements can be recommended.

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Do Athletes Need More Dietary Protein and Amino Acids?

Cited by 73 publications

References 53 publications

Postexercise protein intake enhances whole-body and leg protein accretion in humans

Postexercise protein intake enhances whole-body and leg protein accretion in humans

Plasma lactate, GH and GH-binding protein levels in exercise following BCAA supplementation in athletes

Nutritional ergogenic aids and exercise performance

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