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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05998603

Pre-sleep Protein Supplementation and Load Carriage Recovery in British Army Recruits

Load carriage is a common military activity and has been shown to induce acute exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and impair muscle function. Protein supplementation can accelerate muscle recovery by attenuating EIMD and muscle function loss. This study investigated the impact of an additional daily bolus of protein prior to sleep throughout training on acute muscle recovery following a load carriage test in British Army recruits. Muscle function (maximal jump height), perceived muscle soreness and urinary markers of muscle damage were assessed before (PRE), immediately post (POST), 24-hours post (24h-POST) and 40-hours post (40h-POST) a load carriage test.

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Key information

Conditions

Protein-energy; Imbalance Muscle Soreness Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal Pain Myalgia Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Neuromuscular Diseases Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Anglia Ruskin University

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1 1PT, United Kingdom

About this study

British Army basic training (BT) is physically demanding with new recruits completing multiple bouts of physical activity each day with limited recovery. Load carriage is one of the most physically demanding BT activities and has been shown to induce acute exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and impair muscle function. Protein supplementation can accelerate muscle recovery by attenuating EIMD and muscle function loss. This study investigated the impact of an additional daily bolus of protein prior to sleep throughout training on acute muscle recovery following a load carriage test in United Kingdom (UK) British Army recruits. A mixed group (men/women) over over 120 new recruits were randomised to dietary control (CON), carbohydrate placebo (PLA), moderate (20g; MOD) or high (60g; HIGH) protein supplementation. Muscle function (maximal jump height), perceived muscle soreness and urinary markers of muscle damage were assessed before (PRE), immediately post (POST), 24-hours post (24h-POST) and 40-hours post (40h-POST) a load carriage test. The underlying aim of this study was to assess whether additional protein intake could attenuate aspects of muscle damage from an acute load carriage test including muscle function, muscle soreness and biomarkers of muscle damage during short term recovery.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Enrolled into British Army basic training
  • Medically fit to train and complete the load carriage test

Exclusion criteria

  • Not taking any other nutritional supplement
  • Pregnant

Treatment and study plan

High protein intake

Dietary Supplement

The participants received a 60g whey protein bolus each evening prior to sleep pre and post a military load carriage test.

Moderate protein intake

Dietary Supplement

The participants received a 20g whey protein bolus each evening prior to sleep pre and post a military load carriage test.

Carbohydrate maltodextrin placebo

Dietary Supplement

The participants received an isocaloric carbohydrate bolus each evening prior to sleep pre and post a military load carriage test.

Control no supplementation

Other

Control group, no supplementation, only basic training

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in lower body muscle function

    Time frame: 40-hours

    The change in maximal vertical jump height in participants before and after the load carriage test

Secondary outcomes

  1. The change in urinary myoglobin

    Time frame: 40-hours

    The relative change in concentration of urinary myoglobin (ng/ml) in participants before and after the load carriage test

  2. The change in urinary 3-methylhistidine

    Time frame: 40-hours

    The relative change in concentration of urinary 3-methylhistidine (nmol/ml) in participants before and after the load carriage test

  3. The change in perceived muscle soreness

    Time frame: 40-hours

    The relative change in perceived muscle soreness assessed via visual analogue scale. The participants were asked to record their perceived muscle soreness using a 0-10 Likert scale (e.g., 0=no pain, 10=severe pain that limits the ability to move).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Anglia Ruskin University

Other

Collaborators

  • University of Exeter

Registry information

Official study title

Pre-sleep Protein Supplementation Does Not Improve Recovery From Load Carriage in British Army Recruits

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Aug 21, 2023
Registry last updated
Feb 26, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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