Protein Supplementation and Muscle Recovery in Football

NCT ID: NCT03348267

Last Updated: 2018-01-30

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2016-05-01
• Study Completion Date: 2016-09-15

Brief Summary

Soccer is an intermittent sport including a high number of powerful actions such as accelerations, decelerations, changes of direction, jumps and impacts that incorporate a strong eccentric component and may therefore lead to skeletal muscle damage. Indeed, match activity is associated with the onset of muscle damage and an acute inflammatory response that result in attenuated performance for as long as 1 to 3 days. In competitive soccer though, multiple matches are performed within a small-time frame resulting in inadequate muscle recovery and reduced field performance. Supplementation with milk proteins following intense exercise protocols has been shown to stimulate protein synthesis and facilitate muscle recovery. Thus, the aim of the present investigation is to examine the effects of milk protein supplementation on muscle recovery and soccer-specific performance during an in-season microcycle with two matches performed three days apart.

Detailed Description

In a double-blind, cross over, repeated measures design 20 men soccer players will receive either placebo (PLA) or milk protein isolate (PRO, 80% casein-20% whey) throughout recovery following two matches performed three days apart. On match days, players will receive a dose immediately after the match (PLA vs PRO: 25g of protein) and then at 3h (PLA vs PRO: 30g of protein) and 6h (PLA vs PRO: 25g of protein) post-match. On each day of the remaining days, players will consume a single dose of PLA or PRO (20g of protein) with breakfast. All players will participate in regular in-season training following matches. Field activity during both matches and daily practices will be monitored using GPS devices. Heart rate will be continuously recorded during each match and training session. Blood samples will be collected at baseline as well as 2 hours after the first match, daily for three days after the first match, 2 hours after the second match and daily for 3 days after the second match. Performance (isokinetic strength, 20-m speed, repeated sprint ability) and muscle soreness will be assessed at baseline daily for 3 days after both matches. Muscle biopsies from vastus lateralis will be collected at baseline and one day after each match.

Conditions

Skeletal Muscle Damage; Muscle Inflammation; Muscle Recovery; Soccer Performance

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Protein

On the match day, 25g of protein consumed immediately after the match and then 30g at 3h (+3h) and 25g at 6h (+6h). On each day of the remaining days, 20 g of protein consumed with breakfast.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Milk protein isolate

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Milk protein isolate in a powder form consisted of 80% casein and 20% whey protein. 20g were diluted into 500 ml water

Placebo

On the match day, 500 ml received received orally immediately post-match and then at +3h and +6h. On the remaining days, 500 ml daily with breakfast.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

500 mL drink that contained water (375 mL), sugar-free cordial (125 mL) and 2 g of low-calorie glucose/dextrose powder.

Interventions

Milk protein isolate

Milk protein isolate in a powder form consisted of 80% casein and 20% whey protein. 20g were diluted into 500 ml water

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo

500 mL drink that contained water (375 mL), sugar-free cordial (125 mL) and 2 g of low-calorie glucose/dextrose powder.

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• i) participation at elite level (top three division leagues) of soccer competition for at least five years, ii) abstain from consumption of performance-enhancing supplements, antioxidant supplements and medications (for at least 6 months before and during the study), iv) participate in at least six two-hour training sessions per week and played at least one match per week and v) non-smokers.

Exclusion Criteria

• i) a known milk intolerance or allergy, ii) a recent febrile illness, iii) history of muscle lesion, iv) lower limb trauma and v) metabolic diseases.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Thessaly

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Athanasios Z. Jamurtas

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

ATHANASIOS POULIOS, PhDc

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY, SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION & SPORTS SCIENCES

Locations

Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory, School of Physical Education & Sports Sciences, University of Thessaly

Trikala, , Greece

Countries

Greece

Other Identifiers

PROTEIN-FOOTBALL RECOVERY-UTH

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id