Pre-sleep Protein Supplementation in British Army Recruits

Anglia Ruskin University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Protein-energy; Imbalance; Body Weight; Recovery

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Moderate protein supplement; Dietary Supplement: High protein supplement; Other: Control: No supplementation; Dietary Supplement: Carbohydrate placebo

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05998590

1076/MODREC/20

Details and patient eligibility

About

Dietary protein has been shown to be important to support physical training. For occupational demands such as military training, new recruits often fail to meet the recommended protein intake during basic training (BT), with negligible amounts consumed in the evening. As such, individuals undertaking BT may require higher intakes than the general population.This study assessed the influence of a daily bolus of protein prior to sleep on performance adaptations, body composition and recovery in British Army recruits.

Full description

Dietary protein is crucial for optimising physical training adaptations such as muscular strength and mass, which are key aims for athletic populations, including British Army recruits. New recruits fail to meet the recommended protein intake during basic training (BT), with negligible amounts consumed in the evening. This study aimed to assess the influence of a daily bolus of protein prior to sleep on performance adaptations, body composition and recovery in British Army recruits. The study will recruit a mixed cohort of >120 new recruits from the United Kingdom (UK) British Army who will be randomised into a dietary control (CON), carbohydrate placebo (PLA), moderate (20g) protein (MOD) or high (60g) protein (HIGH) supplementation group. Supplements will be isocaloric and consumed daily on weekday evenings between 2000 and 2100h for 10 weeks during BT, alongside standardised dietary intake and BT activities. Performance tests (mid-thigh pull, medicine ball throw, 2km run time, maximal push-up and maximal vertical jump) and body composition will be assessed at the start and end of BT under standardised conditions. Dietary intake, energy expenditure, salivary hormones, urinary nitrogen balance, perceived muscle soreness, rating of perceived exertion, mood and fatigue will be assessed at the start, middle and end of BT. The underlying aim of this study is to assess whether inclusion of nocturnal protein supplementation will influence performance adaptations, body composition changes or acute recovery in British Army recruits.

Enrollment: 122 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Enrolled into British Army basic training
• Medically fit to start Army training

Exclusion criteria

• Not taking any other nutritional supplement
• Not currently pregnant
• Not dairy or lactose intolerant or have any specific dietary requirements .

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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122 participants in 4 patient groups, including a placebo group

High protein intake supplementation

Experimental group

Description:

A daily 60g dose of whey protein supplementation received between 8-9pm during BT.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: High protein supplement

Moderate protein intake supplementation

Experimental group

Description:

A daily 20g dose of whey protein supplementation received between 8-9pm during BT.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Moderate protein supplement

Carbohydrate placebo supplementation

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

A daily isocaloric carbohydrate (maltodextrin) placebo received between 8-9pm during BT.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Carbohydrate placebo

Control group

Other group

Description:

Control group, no daily supplement received, only participating in BT.

Treatment:

Other: Control: No supplementation