Protein needs in athletes and dietary-nutrition guidelines to gain muscle mass

Authors

  • Aritz Urdampilleta Departamento de Farmacia y Ciencias de los Alimentos, Universidad del País Vasco Departamento de Educación Física y Deportiva, Universidad del País Vasco
  • Néstor Vicente-Salar Instituto de Bioingeniería, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Alicante
  • José Miguel Martínez-Sanz Programa de Tecnificación de Triatlón, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14306/renhyd.16.1.103

Keywords:

Muscles, Hypertrophy, Proteins, Sports, Exercise, Dietary supplement, sport, Nutritional requirements

Abstract

One of the most important effects of strength training is muscular hypertrophy. Athletes should optimize their nutritional management in order to compensate their own genetic limitations. The aim of this review is to analyze the scientific evidence concerning protein intake as a tool to achieve muscle hypertrophy. Depending on the expenditure and energy intake of athlete, a daily protein ranging between 10-15% of total dietary intake is needed. However in sports diets, it is preferable to estimate the amount of protein needed per kilogram of body weight in each individual. In this regard athletes should ingest an amount between 1.2 g and 1.8 g of proteins/kg of body mass/day to maintain their lean mass. In order to increase muscle mass (0.5 kg/week), athletes should take between 1.6 g and 1.8 g of protein/kg/day with an increase of 400-500 kcal in their daily diet. These needs will depend on the sport, muscular catabolic status, the athlete’s lean mass and glycogen stores. Protein needs will increase if muscle and liver glycogen stores are empty. Excess of protein intake (more than 2 g/kg/day), with full glycogen stores, does not benefit the athlete and could cause an increase in circulating ketones and urea, thereby producing an early dehydration.

Published

2011-09-19

How to Cite

Urdampilleta, A., Vicente-Salar, N., & Martínez-Sanz, J. M. (2011). Protein needs in athletes and dietary-nutrition guidelines to gain muscle mass. Spanish Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 16(1), 25–35. https://doi.org/10.14306/renhyd.16.1.103

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