Protein Supplementation in Pilates Training

Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki

Status: Completed

Conditions: Exercise Training; Dietary Supplements

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Whey protein; Dietary Supplement: Maltodextrin

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05849350

PilatesProtein1

Details and patient eligibility

About

Pilates training, a type of mind and body exercise that focuses on muscle strength and flexibility, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Research has shown that Pilates could be an effective exercise form to improve body composition, particularly in obese individuals, while beneficial effects on flexibility, muscular strength, and muscular endurance have also been observed in young and older adults. It is well documented that protein supplementation can augment the effects of resistance training on body composition and performance. While there is an abundance of studies investigating the effect of protein supplements on adaptations to resistance exercise, there is a knowledge gap regarding their effectiveness in Pilates training.

The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of protein supplementation, compared to placebo (maltodextrin) on body composition, performance, and biochemical indices in healthy young and middle-aged, eumenorrheic (regular menstrual cycle) women who perform Pilates. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either 0.6 g of whey protein or maltodextrin per kg body weight per day for 10 weeks. Participants will be asked to avoid modifying their dietary habits for the duration of the study to limit the effect of diet on the measured parameters. To check for this, participants will record their diet for 3 days (2 weekdays and one weekend day) on the first, middle, and last weeks of the intervention. Dietary records will then be analyzed. Pilates classes will be performed at least two times per week, while specialized Pilates equipment (Reformer or Cadillac) will be used according to the Pilates principles. The duration of each workout will be set at around 50 min.

Participants will undergo measurements of body composition, core muscle endurance, and joint flexibility at the beginning and end of the study. In addition, hematologic parameters, clinical chemistry parameters, hormones, and plasma amino acids will be measured. All these outcome measures will be compared between the whey protein and maltodextrin groups to determine the effectiveness of protein supplementation in Pilates training.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Eumenorrheic (regular menstrual cycle) women
• Regular Pilates training (at least 2 times a week, 50 min each session, for the past 4 months), as assessed by gym records or questionnaires
• Mixed isoenergetic diet for the past 4 months

Exclusion criteria

• Any musculoskeletal injuries that could interfere with training
• Chronic disease
• Milk allergy
• Pregnancy, lactation, or planning a pregnancy within the duration of the study
• Regular use of prescription medicine or supplements that might affect muscle function or recovery over the past month
• Intermittent or religious fasting
• Any vegetarian, ketogenic or protein diet

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Protein

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive a whey protein supplement.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Whey protein

Maltodextrin

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive an isocaloric maltodextrin supplement.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Maltodextrin