AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
A study at Otago University examined the effects of protein supplementation on untrained, pre-menopausal women undergoing resistance and high-intensity interval training. For 12 weeks, 27 women participated in regular exercise, with half receiving a 24g whey protein drink post-workout and the other half a low-protein drink. The study found no significant difference in strength and lean mass gains between the groups, suggesting that protein supplementation may not be necessary for untrained women engaging in this type of exercise. Researchers noted that individual diets and training timing could influence results, and further research is needed to explore the impact of higher protein doses. All participants saw significant gains in strength and lean mass from training alone.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
Marc Murray
Twenty-seven healthy, untrained, pre-menopausal women aged between 18 and 50 took part in Otago’s study, which was recently published in the journal Nutrients.
For 12 weeks they completed two upper body resistance sessions and three high-intensity interval cycle sessions each week.
After each training session, half of the participants were given a whey protein drink (24g), while the others were given an equicaloric, low protein (3g) drink.
Participants’ diets and the timing of the training sessions (prior to normal meal times) may have also played a role, so women should not discount a possible positive effect of protein supplementation, particularly if protein intake from the daily diet is suboptimal.
“There is value in taking protein supplements post-workout as they provide a convenient and accessible way to meet protein intake requirements particularly if you are busy or finding it difficult to meet the recommended intake from your meals,” he says.
“We also don’t know if greater amounts of protein in the supplementation might have made a difference.”
Mr Murray says the study shows untrained women tolerate physical activity recommendations that are largely based on male data.
“Within just three months, there were significant gains in strength and lean mass across all our participants, demonstrating a strong effect of training,” he says.
