Cited by 31Muscle metabolism and nutritionSports Performance and TrainingExercise and Physiological Responses

Coingestion of Carbohydrate and Protein on Muscle Glycogen Synthesis after Exercise: A Meta-analysis

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MARGOLIS, LEE M., ALLEN, JILLIAN T., HATCH-MCCHESNEY, ADRIENNE, PASIAKOS, STEFAN M.·2021·Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

Abstract

Introduction/Purpose: Evidence suggests that carbohydrate and protein (CHO-PRO) ingestion after exercise enhances muscle glycogen repletion to a greater extent than carbohydrate (CHO) alone. However, there is no consensus at this point, and results across studies are mixed, which may be attributable to differences in energy content and carbohydrate intake relative to body mass consumed after exercise. The purpose of this study was determine the overall effects of CHO-PRO and the independent effects of energy and relative carbohydrate content of CHO-PRO supplementation on postexercise muscle glycogen synthesis compared with CHO alone. Methods: Meta-analysis was conducted on crossover studies assessing the influence of CHO-PRO compared with CHO alone on postexercise muscle glycogen synthesis. Studies were identified in a systematic review from PubMed and Cochrane Library databases. Data are presented as effect size (95% confidence interval [CI]) using Hedges’ g . Subgroup analyses were conducted to evaluate effects of isocaloric and nonisocaloric energy content and dichotomized by median relative carbohydrate (high, ≥0.8 g·kg −1 ⋅h −1 ; low, <0.8 g·kg −1 ⋅h −1 ) content on glycogen synthesis. Results: Twenty studies were included in the analysis. CHO-PRO had no overall effect on glycogen synthesis (0.13, 95% CI = −0.04 to 0.29) compared with CHO. Subgroup analysis found that CHO-PRO had a positive effect (0.26, 95% CI = 0.04–0.49) on glycogen synthesis when the combined intervention provided more energy than CHO. Glycogen synthesis was not significant (−0.05, 95% CI = −0.23 to 0.13) in CHO-PRO compared with CON when matched for energy content. There was no statistical difference of CHO-PRO on glycogen synthesis in high (0.07, 95% CI = −0.11 to 0.22) or low (0.21, 95% CI = −0.08 to 0.50) carbohydrate content compared with CHO. Conclusion: Glycogen synthesis rates are enhanced when CHO-PRO are coingested after exercise compared with CHO only when the added energy of protein is consumed in addition to, not in place of, carbohydrate.

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  • The benefit of protein added to carbohydrate appears to occur only when protein is added to a suboptimal amount of carbohydrate (e.g., 0.3 g·kg−1·h−1 protein and 0.9 g·kg−1⋅h−1 carbohydrate).

    “However, this benefit appears to occur only when protein is added to a suboptimal amount of carbohydrate (e.g., 0.3 g·kg⁻1·h⁻1 protein and 0.9 g·kg−1⋅h−1 carbohydrate) [85].”

    From Nutritional Strategies to Improve Post-exercise Recovery and Subsequent Exercise Performance: A Narrative Review (2025) · cites this paper as [85]

    The Conclusion proposes 0.9 g·kg−1·h−1 carbohydrate plus 0.3 g·kg−1·h−1 protein as a way to support overall postexercise recovery. But the Results found no significant glycogen-synthesis benefit in either the high- or low-carbohydrate subgroup, and the Discussion says the analysis does not establish that a benefit occurs only at lower carbohydrate intakes. The cited amounts are supported; the exclusive condition is not. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Authors
MARGOLIS, L. M., ALLEN, J. T., HATCH-MCCHESNEY, A., & PASIAKOS, S. M.
Affiliations
  • U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (US)
  • Military Nutrition Division, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA
Venue
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
Published
2020-08-24
Volume
53
Issue
2
Pages
384-393
ISSN
  • 0195-9131 (ISSN-L)
  • 1530-0315
OpenAlex
W3080426560
Cited by
31
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6
FWCI
0.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
Keywords
muscle glycogen synthesis, carbohydrate supplementation, protein supplementation, glycogen repletion
MeSH terms
Dietary Carbohydrates, Dietary Proteins, Glycogen, Humans, Exercise, Muscle, Skeletal

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