Carb, Protein Supplements May Not Improve Exercise Performance But Can Reduce Muscle Damage

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 28 May 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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A new study in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research suggests that drinking a carbohydrate and protein supplement prior to and during exercise does not improve exercise performance. However, subjects who consumed the supplement did experience significantly reduced muscle damage compared to control subjects.

The study examined the effects of consuming a carbohydrate and protein supplement prior to, during, and following an intense resistance exercise workout. The results indicate that a carbohydrate and protein supplement can significantly reduce muscle damage during acute bouts of resistance exercise, potentially allowing athletes to participate in their next high-intensity exercise bout in a shorter period of time. This finding can also apply to novice lifters and other individuals who regularly engage in resistance training.

The study authors are careful to note that although the supplement did not appear to influence exercise performance, previous studies were based on exercise programs targeting one main group of muscles, while the exercise program in this study incorporated the entire body.

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, the official peer-reviewed research journal of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), provides the reader with a better understanding of conditioning and sport by publishing premier scientific papers on exercise, sport, and conditioning practices. The journal provides important insights relating to training, nutritional, and biological factors that affect physical performance. Please visit the journal online at http://nsca.allenpress.com.

The NSCA brings is the worldwide authority on strength and conditioning, and supports and disseminates research-based knowledge and its practical application to improve athletic performance and fitness. For more information about the NSCA, please visit http://www.nsca-lift.org.

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