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

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Protein-energy; Imbalance; Muscle Soreness
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: High protein intake; Dietary Supplement: Carbohydrate maltodextrin placebo; Dietary Supplement: Moderate protein intake; Other: Control no supplementation

• Registration Number: NCT05998603
• Lead Sponsor: Anglia Ruskin University

Brief Summary

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

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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2021-05-01
• Primary Completion: 2022-05-31
• Study Completion: 2022-05-31
• Study First Submitted: 2023-08-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-08-11
• Study First Posted: 2023-08-21
• Status Verified: 2024-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-02-23
• Last Update Posted: 2024-02-26

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 122

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
High protein intake supplementation	High protein intake	A 60g daily dose of whey protein supplementation
Carbohydrate placebo	Carbohydrate maltodextrin placebo	An isocaloic maltodextrin carbohydrate placebo
Moderate protein intake supplementation	Moderate protein intake	A 20g dose of whey protein supplementation
Control group, no supplementation	Control no supplementation	Control group, not taking any supplementation, only completing basic training activities

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in lower body muscle function	40-hours	The change in maximal vertical jump height in participants before and after the load carriage test

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The change in urinary myoglobin	40-hours	The relative change in concentration of urinary myoglobin (ng/ml) in participants before and after the load carriage test
The change in perceived muscle soreness	40-hours	The relative change in perceived muscle soreness assessed via visual analogue scale. The participants were asked to record their perceived muscle soreness using a 0-10 Likert scale (e.g., 0=no pain, 10=severe pain that limits the ability to move).
The change in urinary 3-methylhistidine	40-hours	The relative change in concentration of urinary 3-methylhistidine (nmol/ml) in participants before and after the load carriage test

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Anglia Ruskin University; 🇬🇧 Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom