Pre-sleep Protein Supplementation and Load Carriage Recovery in British Army Recruits

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Load carriage is a common military activity and has been shown to induce acute exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and impair muscle function. Protein supplementation can accelerate muscle recovery by attenuating EIMD and muscle function loss. This study investigated the impact of an additional daily bolus of protein prior to sleep throughout training on acute muscle recovery following a load carriage test in British Army recruits. Muscle function (maximal jump height), perceived muscle soreness and urinary markers of muscle damage were assessed before (PRE), immediately post (POST), 24-hours post (24h-POST) and 40-hours post (40h-POST) a load carriage test.

Detailed Description
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British Army basic training (BT) is physically demanding with new recruits completing multiple bouts of physical activity each day with limited recovery. Load carriage is one of the most physically demanding BT activities and has been shown to induce acute exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and impair muscle function. Protein supplementation can accelerate muscle recovery by attenuating EIMD and muscle function loss. This study investigated the impact of an additional daily bolus of protein prior to sleep throughout training on acute muscle recovery following a load carriage test in United Kingdom (UK) British Army recruits. A mixed group (men/women) over over 120 new recruits were randomised to dietary control (CON), carbohydrate placebo (PLA), moderate (20g; MOD) or high (60g; HIGH) protein supplementation. Muscle function (maximal jump height), perceived muscle soreness and urinary markers of muscle damage were assessed before (PRE), immediately post (POST), 24-hours post (24h-POST) and 40-hours post (40h-POST) a load carriage test. The underlying aim of this study was to assess whether additional protein intake could attenuate aspects of muscle damage from an acute load carriage test including muscle function, muscle soreness and biomarkers of muscle damage during short term recovery.

Official Title
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Pre-sleep Protein Supplementation Does Not Improve Recovery From Load Carriage in British Army Recruits

Conditions
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Protein-energy; Imbalance, Muscle Soreness

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: High protein intake
* Dietary Supplement: Moderate protein intake
* Dietary Supplement: Carbohydrate maltodextrin placebo
* Other: Control no supplementation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Enrolled into British Army basic training Medically fit to train and complete the load carriage test Exclusion Criteria: Not taking any other nutritional supplement Pregnant

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: High protein intake supplementation<br>A 60g daily dose of whey protein supplementation | Dietary Supplement: High protein intake<br>* The participants received a 60g whey protein bolus each evening prior to sleep pre and post a military load carriage test.<br>|
| Experimental: Moderate protein intake supplementation<br>A 20g dose of whey protein supplementation | Dietary Supplement: Moderate protein intake<br>* The participants received a 20g whey protein bolus each evening prior to sleep pre and post a military load carriage test.<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Carbohydrate placebo<br>An isocaloic maltodextrin carbohydrate placebo | Dietary Supplement: Carbohydrate maltodextrin placebo<br>* The participants received an isocaloric carbohydrate bolus each evening prior to sleep pre and post a military load carriage test.<br>|
| Other: Control group, no supplementation<br>Control group, not taking any supplementation, only completing basic training activities | Other: Control no supplementation<br>* Control group, no supplementation, only basic training<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in lower body muscle function | The change in maximal vertical jump height in participants before and after the load carriage test | 40-hours | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The change in urinary myoglobin | The relative change in concentration of urinary myoglobin (ng/ml) in participants before and after the load carriage test | 40-hours | 
| The change in urinary 3-methylhistidine | The relative change in concentration of urinary 3-methylhistidine (nmol/ml) in participants before and after the load carriage test | 40-hours | 
| The change in perceived muscle soreness | The relative change in perceived muscle soreness assessed via visual analogue scale | 40-hours |