Protein gives legs to cyclists

Electrolyte drinks may be fine during an hour of cycling, but at the end of the ride you may want to trade in that bottle for a protein-carbohydrate drink, a new study suggests.

 

Researchers at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, tested five men and five women with three 60-minute bike rides each followed by 180 minutes of recovery.

 

Immediately after each of the three sessions, an oral supplement was randomly given to the cyclists containing: PCF 0:0:0, PCF 0:8:3 and PCF 10:8:3.

 

Blood tests revealed that amino acid concentration increased 33 percent in those taking the protein-carb supplement, with no increase in the non-protein groups.

 

The leg muscle's use of L-phenylalanine, a critical amino acid for energy production, increased fourfold in the carb-protein users, with glucose uptake increasing 3.5-fold and leg and whole-body protein synthesis increasing 6-fold and 15 percent respectively. No difference was recorded in the non-protein groups.

 

Significantly, the post-exercise supplement resulted in a net gain in leg protein and amino acid uptake in those taking the protein-carb combination, and a net loss in the others.

 

"These findings suggest that the availability of amino acids is more important than the availability of energy for post-exercise repair and synthesis of muscle proteins," authors of the study said.

 

"Both endurance and resistance-trained athletes greatly benefit from a combination of protein and simple carbs taken immediately after training, both for energy maintenance and muscle repair," Aussie Bodies food scientist Eric McEntyre said.

 

"Many products have been formulated on the basis of this knowledge, such as Protein Revival, Protein FX bar, Protein Whip and Colostrum Muscle Gainer."