Protein Intake for Older Athletes

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Damian Papadopoulos, B.Sc

Age: 65+

Sex: Male

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: McGill University

Must not be taking: Anti-inflammatories

Disqualifiers: Uncontrolled hypertension, ≥2 chronic diseases, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 7 weeks

8 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine the protein needs of older athletes after intense workouts, focusing on cyclists aged 65 and older who train regularly. By testing various protein intake levels using a method that tracks amino acids, the study seeks to update protein guidelines for these active individuals. Ideal participants are healthy cyclists who ride over 100 km weekly and have maintained stable weight for the past six months. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to important research that could improve nutritional guidelines for active seniors.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If you are currently using anti-inflammatory medications, you will need to stop taking them to participate in this trial.

What prior data suggests that this method is safe for older athletes?

Previous studies have shown that taking amino acids is safe and important for building and repairing muscles, especially after exercise. Amino acids serve as the building blocks that help muscles grow and heal. Most endurance athletes, such as master cyclists, often require more protein than the average person.

Research suggests consuming about 0.25 grams of high-quality protein per kilogram of body weight is generally recommended. No major reports of negative effects have emerged from following these protein guidelines, indicating that adjusting amino acid intake is usually well-tolerated. This adjustment is considered beneficial for athletes training hard to meet their bodies' needs.

Overall, evidence shows that amino acid intake is safe for older athletes who want to support their training and recovery. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Most treatments for maintaining muscle health in older athletes focus on general dietary guidelines or protein supplements. However, amino acid intake is unique because it targets the specific building blocks of protein directly, allowing for more precise control over intake levels. Researchers are excited about this treatment because it has the potential to customize nutrition plans based on individual needs, potentially leading to improved muscle maintenance and performance in older athletes. This approach could offer a more tailored and efficient solution compared to traditional methods.

What evidence suggests that amino acid intake is effective for older athletes?

Studies have shown that eating more protein helps older adults maintain muscle. This is important for master athletes, as strong muscles are crucial for sports performance and recovery. Research indicates that protein can also boost endurance, essential for cyclists. In this trial, participants will receive varying levels of amino acid intakes, ranging from 0.2 to 2.8 g/kg/d, to determine optimal intake levels. While older methods might not accurately measure protein needs, newer research suggests that older athletes might require different amounts. Early findings indicate that about 0.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight at each meal can benefit endurance athletes like cyclists. ^{1 4 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for male master cyclists aged 35 and above who regularly engage in intense training. Participants should be healthy, without any metabolic disorders that affect nutrition. They must not have dietary restrictions that could impact protein intake.

Inclusion Criteria

Masters level cyclist training more than 4 days per week and approximately 100 km per week

Availability for multiple metabolic trials (approximately 7 trials)

I can travel to the lab for tests.

Exclusion Criteria

I am currently taking anti-inflammatory medications.

I do not have any current illnesses like HIV or kidney problems.

I have two or more chronic conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants are assigned varying levels of amino acid intakes ranging between 0.5 to 2.8 g/kg/d and undergo endurance training sessions

7 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Amino Acid Intake

Trial Overview The study aims to determine the optimal amount of protein needed after cycling exercises using a method called Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation (IAAO). It seeks to reassess current nutritional guidelines for highly active older adults.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Masters Level Cyclists Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants are to be randomly assigned varying levels of amino acid intakes ranging between 0.2 to 2.8 g/kg/d

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

McGill University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

421

Recruited

1,017,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) recommends a protein intake of 0.8 g/kg/day for adults, but athletes may require more due to their higher activity levels, although this is not officially recognized in the RDA.

Higher protein diets (30%-35% of total energy) have been shown to promote greater weight loss and fat loss while preserving lean muscle mass compared to lower protein diets, making them beneficial for both athletes and individuals aiming for weight reduction.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary protein for athletes: from requirements to metabolic advantage. Phillips, SM.[2022]

A leucine-enriched whey protein supplement with lower calories significantly increases serum levels of total amino acids (TAA), essential amino acids (EAA), and leucine in healthy older adults compared to casein protein or higher calorie options.

The differences in amino acid absorption are influenced by the gastrointestinal behavior of the protein sources, with whey protein showing better digestion and absorption than casein.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protein type and caloric density of protein supplements modulate postprandial amino acid profile through changes in gastrointestinal behaviour: A randomized trial. Luiking, YC., Abrahamse, E., Ludwig, T., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of 18 randomized controlled trials involving over 1300 older adults found that increasing protein intake may positively affect lean body mass, with some benefits for muscle strength when combined with physical exercise.

However, the evidence is insufficient to support significant health benefits from increased protein intake in older adults already consuming ≥0.8 g/(kg BW · d), particularly for outcomes like physical performance and bone health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health Effects of Increasing Protein Intake Above the Current Population Reference Intake in Older Adults: A Systematic Review of the Health Council of the Netherlands. Hengeveld, LM., de Goede, J., Afman, LA., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8566396/

Protein Requirements for Master Athletes: Just Older ... This review puts forth the argument that Master athletes have similar muscle characteristics, physiological responses to exercise, and protein metabolism as ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-healthy-subjects-hs-4-2024-200ac

Protein Intake for Older Athletes A systematic review of 18 randomized controlled trials involving over 1300 older adults found that increasing protein intake may positively affect lean body ...

3. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1455728/full

The effect of protein intake on athletic performance Protein intake appears to provide modest benefits to athletes in improving their performance, particularly by enhancing endurance.

4. trainright.com trainright.com/protein-masters-athletes/

New Research Suggests Lowering Protein Requirements ... New research challenges the widely-accepted guidance that older athletes need to consume more protein than younger athletes.

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12152099/

Protein Nutrition for Endurance Athletes: A Metabolic Focus ... Preliminary evidence indicates that endurance athletes should target a per meal protein intake of ~ 0.5 g·kgBM−1 to maximally stimulate the ...

6. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/296168/protein-requirements-amongst-male-masters-level-athletes-following-a-cycling-exercise-bout-as-determined-by-the-indicator-amino-acid-oxidation-technique/

Protein Requirements Amongst Male Masters-Level ... The purpose of this study is to measure the protein requirements in master cyclists, following an endurance training session, using the non- ...

7. gssiweb.org gssiweb.org/docs/default-source/sse-docs/moore_protein_requirement_sse219.pdf?sfvrsn=2

PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS OF MASTER ATHLETES Dietary protein provides amino acid building blocks to repair, remodel, and build (synthesize) muscle and body proteins. Amino acids may also.

8. jissn.biomedcentral.com jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-017-0177-8

International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein ... General recommendations are 0.25 g of a high-quality protein per kg of body weight, or an absolute dose of 20–40 g. 5). Acute protein doses ...