Pre-sleep Protein Supplementation in British Army Recruits
Condition: Protein-energy; Imbalance; Recovery; Body Weight
MeSH terms: Body Weight
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Dietary protein has been shown to be important to support physical training. For occupational
      demands such as military training, new recruits often fail to meet the recommended protein
      intake during basic training (BT), with negligible amounts consumed in the evening. As such,
      individuals undertaking BT may require higher intakes than the general population.This study
      assessed the influence of a daily bolus of protein prior to sleep on performance adaptations,
      body composition and recovery in British Army recruits.
    

Detailed description: 
      Dietary protein is crucial for optimising physical training adaptations such as muscular
      strength and mass, which are key aims for athletic populations, including British Army
      recruits. New recruits fail to meet the recommended protein intake during basic training
      (BT), with negligible amounts consumed in the evening. This study aimed to assess the
      influence of a daily bolus of protein prior to sleep on performance adaptations, body
      composition and recovery in British Army recruits. The study will recruit a mixed cohort of
      >120 new recruits from the United Kingdom (UK) British Army who will be randomised into a
      dietary control (CON), carbohydrate placebo (PLA), moderate (20g) protein (MOD) or high (60g)
      protein (HIGH) supplementation group. Supplements will be isocaloric and consumed daily on
      weekday evenings between 2000 and 2100h for 10 weeks during BT, alongside standardised
      dietary intake and BT activities. Performance tests (mid-thigh pull, medicine ball throw, 2km
      run time, maximal push-up and maximal vertical jump) and body composition will be assessed at
      the start and end of BT under standardised conditions. Dietary intake, energy expenditure,
      salivary hormones, urinary nitrogen balance, perceived muscle soreness, rating of perceived
      exertion, mood and fatigue will be assessed at the start, middle and end of BT. The
      underlying aim of this study is to assess whether inclusion of nocturnal protein
      supplementation will influence performance adaptations, body composition changes or acute
      recovery in British Army recruits.
    

Intervention name(s): High protein supplement; Moderate protein supplement; Carbohydrate placebo; Control: No supplementation
Intervention type(s): Dietary Supplement; Dietary Supplement; Dietary Supplement; Other
Intervention description(s): The participants received a 60g protein bolus each evening prior to sleep from week 3 to week 12 of training.; The participants received a 20g protein bolus each evening prior to sleep from week 3 to week 12 of training.; The participants received an isocaloric carbohydrate bolus each evening prior to sleep from week 3 to week 12 of training.; The participants did not receive any supplementation but instead acted as a control group doing BT only
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Other