Effects Of Pre- And Post-Exercise Protein Vs. Carbohydrate Ingestion On Training Adaptations In Collegiate Female Athletes: 2209

The role of nutrient timing both before and after daily training sessions is now a major part of the nutritional recommendations for athletes to maximize training adaptations. However, there still exists some questions on the ideal macronutrient selection for these preand post-workout meals. PURPOSE: To investigate the potential effects of protein vs. carbohydrate ingestion in collegiate female basketball players. METHODS: 14 (20.2 ± 1.4 years, 169.4 ± 5.8 cm, 67.5 ± 6.1 kg, 27.1 ± 4.4 %BF) NCAA Division III female basketball players were matched by weight and randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to consume 24 grms whey protein (WP) or 24 grms maltodextrin (MD) preand post-exercise for eight weeks. Subjects participated in a supervised 4-day per week undulating periodized resistance and anaerobic training program. At 0 and 8-weeks, subjects underwent DEXA body composition analysis and upperand lower-body 1RM strength, vertical jump, 5-10-5, and broad jump testing. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA (p≤0.05) and are presented as mean ± SD changes. RESULTS: Significant group x time interaction effects were observed among groups for bench press 1RM (p = 0.043) and DEXA lean mass (p = 0.026) indicating that the WP group resulted in a more substantial training adaptations over the MD group. A significant time effect (p < 0.05) was observed for DEXA %BF (%change: -4.87 ± 4%), DEXA fat mass (%change: -4.33 ± 5%), leg press 1RM (%change: 13.57 ± 7%), vertical jump (%change: 9.95 ± 6%), 5-10-5 (%change: -3.1 ± 2%), and broad jump (%change: 3.9 ± 4%) suggesting that the stimulus of the training protocol was adequate to promote anaerobic physiological adaptations. CONCLUSION: In regards to nutrient timing, our results suggest that whey protein ingestion both preand post-training is a greater stimulus for increases in lean mass in female collegiate anaerobic athletes as compared to the ingestion of carbohydrates. This translated into a significant difference in upper body 1RM strength, however, despite significant training adaptations occurring over the 8 week trial, no significant differences occurred in lower body strength, vertical and broad jump, and 5-10-5 time between WP and MD groups. Supported by the UMHB Graduate Research Grant