Does protein intake influence low-energy availability symptoms? 🪫
Prioritise protein during low energy intake?
The Influence of Short-Term, Severe Low Energy Availability With Varying Protein Content on Substrate Metabolism, High-Intensity Exercise Performance and Subjective Responses in Young Adults
Study Details
This new study recruited healthy active females (n = 9) and males (n= 10) to complete 3 x 5-day dietary conditions 🍽️
1️⃣ Adequate energy availability (AEA: 45 kcal/kgFFM/day)
2️⃣ Low energy availability (LEA: 15 kcal/kgFFM/day)
3️⃣ Low energy availability with protein intake matched to AEA (LEA-P: 15 kcal/kgFFM/day)
The difference in protein intake between LEA and LEA-P was 0.45 g/kg and 1.5 g/kg, respectively 🍗
Metabolism, performance and subjective responses were assessed pre- and post-interventions 🔍
Key Findings
🔥 Both the LEA and LEA-P diets induced a shift towards increased fat oxidation at rest, but not during exercise
⚡️ Wingate performance declined only in the LEA-P trial compared to AEA
👉 This was likely due to reduced carbohydrates the LEA-P trial (to accommodate for higher protein)
🧠 During both LEA and LEA-P, participants generally reported negative experiences during both calorie-restricted trials, including hunger, fatigue, weakness and frustration
🙋♂️ Symptoms appeared more pronounced in males during the LEA trial
Conclusion
Higher protein intake intake during LEA does not appear to significantly effect symptoms ❌
This study also highlights the importance of carbs for performance even in low energy conditions ‼️
Carbs carry performance, even when calories can’t.
Reference
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41992072/
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