Timing matters? The effects of two different timing of high protein diets on body composition, muscular performance, and biochemical markers in resistance-trained males

Mohammadyasin Lak; Reza Bagheri; Hamid Ghobadi; Bill Campbell; Alexei Wong; Amin Shahrbaf; Mohammad Shariatzadeh; Fred Dutheil

doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1397090

Timing matters? The effects of two different timing of high protein diets on body composition, muscular performance, and biochemical markers in resistance-trained males

Front Nutr. 2024 May 23:11:1397090. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1397090. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Mohammadyasin Lak¹, Reza Bagheri², Hamid Ghobadi³, Bill Campbell⁴, Alexei Wong⁵, Amin Shahrbaf⁶, Mohammad Shariatzadeh¹, Fred Dutheil⁷

Affiliations

¹ Sport Sciences Research Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Exercise Physiology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
³ Department of Exercise Physiology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
⁴ Performance and Physique Enhancement Laboratory, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States.
⁵ Department of Health and Human Performance, Marymount University, Arlington, TX, United States.
⁶ Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁷ Université Clermont Auvergne CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, Preventive and Occupational Medicine, Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Abstract

Background: It is unclear whether resistance training in combination with different timing of protein intake might have differential effects on muscle hypertrophy, strength, and performance. Therefore, we compared the effects of 8 weeks of resistance training combined with two different high-protein diet strategies (immediately pre-and after, or 3 h pre and after exercise) in resistance-trained males.

Methods: Forty resistance-trained males (24 ± 4 years) performed 8 weeks of resistance training combined with 2 g kg^-1 d^-1 protein. Body composition, muscular performance, and biochemical markers were assessed pre and post-intervention.

Results: Nine participants (four from 3 h group and five from the immediate group) withdrew from the study. Therefore, 31 participants completed the study. All measures of skeletal muscle mass, Australian pull-up, and muscle strength, significantly increased post-intervention in both groups (p < 0.05). The biochemical marker urea also significantly increased from pre to post in both groups (p < 0.05). There were no significant between-group differences (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: High-protein diet enhances muscular performance and skeletal muscle mass in resistance-trained males, irrespective of intake time. Consequently, the total daily protein intake appears to be the primary factor in facilitating muscle growth induced by exercise.

Keywords: dietary protein; exercise; muscle hypertrophy; nutrition; strength.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This research was supported by Peyman Tarahomi, managing director of Kharazmi Pharmaceutical Company, Tehran, Iran.