Pre-sleep Protein Supplementation in British Army Recruits

Body Weight Clinical Trial

Official title:

Pre-sleep Protein Supplementation Does Not Improve Performance, Body Composition and Recovery in British Army Recruits

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05998590
• Other study ID #: 1076/MODREC/20
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: May 1, 2021
• Est. completion date: May 31, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: July 2023
• Source: Anglia Ruskin University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Dietary protein has been shown to be important to support physical training. For occupational demands such as military training, new recruits often fail to meet the recommended protein intake during basic training (BT), with negligible amounts consumed in the evening. As such, individuals undertaking BT may require higher intakes than the general population.This study assessed the influence of a daily bolus of protein prior to sleep on performance adaptations, body composition and recovery in British Army recruits.

Description:

Dietary protein is crucial for optimising physical training adaptations such as muscular strength and mass, which are key aims for athletic populations, including British Army recruits. New recruits fail to meet the recommended protein intake during basic training (BT), with negligible amounts consumed in the evening. This study aimed to assess the influence of a daily bolus of protein prior to sleep on performance adaptations, body composition and recovery in British Army recruits. The study will recruit a mixed cohort of >120 new recruits from the United Kingdom (UK) British Army who will be randomised into a dietary control (CON), carbohydrate placebo (PLA), moderate (20g) protein (MOD) or high (60g) protein (HIGH) supplementation group. Supplements will be isocaloric and consumed daily on weekday evenings between 2000 and 2100h for 10 weeks during BT, alongside standardised dietary intake and BT activities. Performance tests (mid-thigh pull, medicine ball throw, 2km run time, maximal push-up and maximal vertical jump) and body composition will be assessed at the start and end of BT under standardised conditions. Dietary intake, energy expenditure, salivary hormones, urinary nitrogen balance, perceived muscle soreness, rating of perceived exertion, mood and fatigue will be assessed at the start, middle and end of BT. The underlying aim of this study is to assess whether inclusion of nocturnal protein supplementation will influence performance adaptations, body composition changes or acute recovery in British Army recruits.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 122
• Est. completion date: May 31, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: May 31, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 35 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Enrolled into British Army basic training

• Medically fit to start Army training

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not taking any other nutritional supplement

• Not currently pregnant

• Not dairy or lactose intolerant or have any specific dietary requirements .

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Body Weight
• Protein-energy; Imbalance
• Recovery

Intervention

Dietary Supplement:
• High protein supplement
The participants received a 60g protein bolus each evening prior to sleep from week 3 to week 12 of training.
• Moderate protein supplement
The participants received a 20g protein bolus each evening prior to sleep from week 3 to week 12 of training.
• Carbohydrate placebo
The participants received an isocaloric carbohydrate bolus each evening prior to sleep from week 3 to week 12 of training.

Other:
• Control: No supplementation
The participants did not receive any supplementation but instead acted as a control group doing BT only

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United Kingdom	Anglia Ruskin University	Cambridge	Cambridgeshire

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Anglia Ruskin University	University of Exeter

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United Kingdom, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Lower body strength performance	Mid-thigh pull	12 weeks
Secondary	Body composition	Fat-free mass	12 weeks