Post-Game High Protein Intake May Improve Recovery of Football-Specific Performance during a Congested Game Fixture: Results from the PRO-FOOTBALL Study

Abstract

The effects of protein supplementation on performance recovery and inflammatory responses during a simulated one-week in-season microcycle with two games (G1, G2) performed three days apart were examined. Twenty football players participated in two trials, receiving either milk protein concentrate (1.15 and 0.26 g/kg on game and training days, respectively) (PRO) or an energy-matched placebo (1.37 and 0.31 g/kg of carbohydrate on game and training days, respectively) (PLA) according to a randomized, repeated-measures, crossover, double-blind design. Each trial included two games and four daily practices. Speed, jump height, isokinetic peak torque, and muscle soreness of knee flexors (KF) and extensors (KE) were measured before G1 and daily thereafter for six days. Blood was drawn before G1 and daily thereafter. Football-specific locomotor activity and heart rate were monitored using GPS technology during games and practices. The two games resulted in reduced speed (by 3–17%), strength of knee flexors (by 12–23%), and jumping performance (by 3–10%) throughout recovery, in both trials. Average heart rate and total distance covered during games remained unchanged in PRO but not in PLA. Moreover, PRO resulted in a change of smaller magnitude in high-intensity running at the end of G2 (75–90 min vs. 0–15 min) compared to PLA (P = 0.012). KE concentric strength demonstrated a more prolonged decline in PLA (days 1 and 2 after G1, P = 0.014–0.018; days 1, 2 and 3 after G2, P = 0.016–0.037) compared to PRO (days 1 after G1, P = 0.013; days 1 and 2 after G2, P = 0.014–0.033) following both games. KF eccentric strength decreased throughout recovery after G1 (PLA: P=0.001–0.047—PRO: P =0.004–0.22) in both trials, whereas after G2 it declined throughout recovery in PLA (P = 0.000–0.013) but only during the first two days (P = 0.000–0.014) in PRO. No treatment effect was observed for delayed onset of muscle soreness, leukocyte counts, and creatine kinase activity. PRO resulted in a faster recovery of protein and lipid peroxidation markers after both games. Reduced glutathione demonstrated a more short-lived reduction after G2 in PRO compared to PLA. In summary, these results provide evidence that protein feeding may more efficiently restore football-specific performance and strength and provide antioxidant protection during a congested game fixture.

Intradialytic Cardiovascular Exercise Training Alters Redox Status, Reduces Inflammation and Improves Physical Performance in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

“…Hs-CRP concentration was quantitatively measured in serum with a latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay, using the Roche Cobas clinical chemistry analyzer, as described [ 42 ]. TBARS, PC, TAC, CAT, GSH and GSSG were assayed according to protocols previously described [ 36 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. Briefly, for the determination of TBARS 100 μL of serum were mixed with 500 μL 35% TCA and 500 μL Tris-HCL (200 mM; pH 7.4) and incubated at room temperature for 10 min.…”

Nutrition in Soccer: A Brief Review of the Issues and Solutions

“…Protein supplementation has been shown to expedite skeletal muscle protein turnover by upregulating muscle protein synthetic rate under conditions of increased physiological stress that would otherwise favour negative protein balance, such as those applied during a congested soccer schedule [36,83]. In a recent study, Poulios et al [88] provided evidence that protein feeding may be advantageous for eccentric and concentric lower limb muscle strength and high-speed running performance, whilst also allowing faster recovery of protein and lipid peroxidation during a congested schedule. Other studies suggest that, recovery from injury typically requires additional protein [112], gelatin or hydrolysed collagen [31].…”

“…Souglis et al [106] observed that both male and female players had elevated blood uric acid and creatine kinase concentrations 4-5 days after competitive soccer matches. Therefore, nutrition strategies should also target recovery from muscle damage sustained during training or match play [88].…”

Effects of Protein Supplementation on Performance and Recovery in Resistance and Endurance Training

“…Individuals must be cautious when attempting to measure recovery from exercise based on these metrics alone. For example, a recent study of 20 high-level soccer players tested the effects of a milk protein concentrate supplement (80% casein and 20% whey) compared to an isocaloric carbohydrate-containing placebo on high intensity running performance, knee extensor and flexor strength, and antioxidative capacity over the course of a 1-week in-season microcycle consisting of two games separated by 2 days ( 53 ). On game days (days 1 and 4), the supplement was consumed immediately post-, 3 h post-, and 6 h post-match in three different doses of 25, 30, and 25 g, respectively, resulting in a total of 80 g. On training days (days 2, 3, 5, and 6), 20 g of the supplement was consumed with breakfast.…”