Protein Supplementation During or Following a Marathon Run Influences Post-Exercise Recovery
Open accessAbstract
The effects of protein supplementation on the ratings of energy/fatigue, muscle soreness [ascending (A) and descending (D) stairs], and serum creatine kinase levels following a marathon run were examined. Variables were compared between recreational male and female runners ingesting carbohydrate + protein (CP) during the run (CPDuring, n = 8) versus those that were consuming carbohydrate (CHODuring, n = 8). In a second study, outcomes were compared between subjects who consumed CP or CHO immediately following exercise [CPPost (n = 4) versus CHOPost (n = 4)]. Magnitude-based inferences revealed no meaningful differences between treatments 24 h post-marathon. At 72 h, recovery [Δ(72 hr-Pre)] was likely improved with CPDuring versus CHODuring, respectively, for Physical Energy (+14 ± 64 vs −74 ± 70 mm), Mental Fatigue (−52 ± 59 vs +1 ± 11 mm), and Soreness-D (+15 ± 9 vs +21 ± 70 mm). In addition, recovery at 72 h was likely-very likely improved with CPPost versus CHOPost for Physical Fatigue, Mental Energy, and Soreness-A. Thus, protein supplementation did not meaningfully alter recovery during the initial 24 h following a marathon. However, ratings of energy/fatigue and muscle soreness were improved over 72 h when CP was consumed during exercise, or immediately following the marathon.
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Marathon runners who consume moderate amounts of protein post-exercise can have recovery benefits.
“Similarly, recent findings have provided evidence that marathon runners that consume moderate amounts of protein post-exercise can have recovery benefits [97,98].”
From The 4R’s Framework of Nutritional Strategies for Post-Exercise Recovery: A Review with Emphasis on New Generation of Carbohydrates (2020) · cites this paper as [97]
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- Authors
- Saunders, M., Luden, N., DeWitt, C., Gross, M., & Dillon Rios, A.
- Affiliations
- James Madison University (US)
- Department of Kinesiology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA
- Corresponding author
- Saunders, Michael
- ORCID
- Luden, Nicholas
- Venue
- Nutrients
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2018-03-10
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 333
- ISSN
- 2072-6643 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5872751
- OpenAlex
- W2789903659
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3
- FWCI
- 1.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Nutrients (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Keywords
- protein supplementation, marathon running, post-exercise recovery, muscle soreness, fatigue, energy rating, creatine kinase, magnitude-based inference, endurance exercise
- MeSH terms
- Proof of Concept Study, Adult, Dietary Carbohydrates, Dietary Proteins, Double-Blind Method, Physical Exertion, Fatigue, Mental Fatigue, Female, Gels, Humans, Male, Physical Endurance, Running, Time Factors, Biomarkers, Muscle Fatigue, Dietary Supplements, Young Adult, Energy Drinks, Snacks, Myalgia, Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Physical Conditioning, Human
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