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Muscle protein synthesis is driven by both physical activity and protein consumption, with the effectiveness of dietary protein shaped by its type, digestion rate, amino acid profile, and the surrounding food matrix. Optimizing synthesis rates involves distributing high-quality protein evenly across meals and including a pre-sleep dose. While plant-based proteins can support muscle growth when properly processed and consumed in adequate amounts, the food matrix and preparation methods significantly affect protein bioavailability. Most athletes meet their protein needs, but further research is needed to understand protein metabolism in complex meals and diverse populations. Practical guidelines emphasize balanced, high-quality protein intake for optimal muscle conditioning.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
1
12/01/2028
BOC
1
12/01/2028
Commission on Dietetic Registration
1
12/10/2028
CSCCa
1
12/01/2028
Dietary protein ingestion to support skeletal muscle recovery, acute reconditioning and longer-term adaptations to exercise training represents a cornerstone within modern sports nutrition. However, most of our recommendations tacitly assume protein needs can be met by the (increased) consumption of animal-derived protein sources. There is interest for an evidence base for increasing alternative dietary protein choices within sports nutrition. While protein ‘source’ has traditionally been less studied within sports nutrition, data are now accumulating such that we can begin to incorporate this issue within modern sports nutrition recommendations. A clear practical challenge for the athlete wishing to become less reliant on animal-derived foods is obtaining sufficient dietary protein. However, it is clear the accelerating availability of alternative protein rich foods is making this achievable. It has traditionally been assumed that animal-derived proteins are the most anabolic (i.e. the most robust at stimulating muscle protein synthesis rates), attributable to a high bioavailability and leucine content. Our evolving understanding and expanded dataset now suggests anabolic parity between animal and carefully selected alternative proteins can be achieved. Promising alternative dietary protein sources that have been investigated include a variety of plant- (including blends), fungal-, algal- and insect-derived proteins. All these proteins provide differing challenges and opportunities, with each existing at various stages of maturity concerning the data supporting their application, and broader applied and commercial viability. Acute studies of muscle protein synthesis and translational studies of muscle adaptive responses to training now show equivalent magnitude responses can be achieved using traditional omnivorous diets and/or animal-derived protein supplementation compared with (more) alternative protein-based approaches, assuming sufficient protein is consumed. However, many limitations in our knowledge base still exist; including how alternative diets interact with different training regimens, populations and various adaptive responses.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
1
02/21/2028
BOC
1
02/21/2028
Commission on Dietetic Registration
1.25
02/19/2028
CSCCa
1
02/21/2028