Co-ingestion of carbohydrate and pea protein does not enhance muscle recovery after strenuous exercise

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of carbohydrate and added pea protein concentrate supplementation on muscle recovery after a military operation called Leader's Reaction Test. METHODS: Twenty-four soldiers from the Brazilian Army were divided into three equal groups (n=8). They received either carbohydrate (0.8.g/kg body weight/h), carbohydrate+carbohydrate (1.0.g/kg body weight/h), or carbohydrate+protein (0.8 g/kg body weight/h of carbohydrate + 0.2 g/kg body weight/h of protein), immediately, 60, and 120 minutes after the Leader’s Reaction Test. Prior, immediately after and 24 hours after the Leader’s Reaction Test, maximal isometric strength and body composition were assessed. Blood samples were also collected for later analysis of concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase. RESULTS: Twenty-four hours after the Leader's Reaction Test, maximal creatine kinase levels were significantly lower than its levels immediately after (501.00 ± 422.09 versus 275.29 ± 242.08 U/L (carbohydrate); 616.88 ± 291.45 versus 334.57 ± 191.61 U/L (carbohydrate+carbohydrate); and 636.75 ± 340.67 versus 382.88 ± 234.42 U/L (carbohydrate+protein), p=0.004). The maximal isometric strength and lactate dehydrogenase levels were not significantly different during the time trials. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that carbohydrate+protein co-ingestion did not improve the recovery of muscle function nor did it attenuate post-exercise muscle damage markers over carbohydrate alone.