Ingesting a Post-Workout Vegan-Protein Multi-Ingredient Expedites Recovery after Resistance Training in Trained Young Males

Abstract

Post workout multi-ingredient admixtures are commonly used to maximize recovery after exercise. The present double-blind, cross-over study compared the acute effects of ingesting a protein-vegan multi-ingredient (VGMT) vs. maltodextrin (MALT) on indices of muscle function. Ten trained males, (26.8 ± 1.9 years) performed two identical, 3-day resistance training periods (one workout-session per day) while receiving either VGMT or MALT (10 min after the completion of each workout). Following a baseline evaluation, we conducted assessments at, 1-h, 24-h and 48-h after the 3-day training period. Primary outcome included the evoked tensiomyography contraction velocity (Vc) of vastus medialis (VM), biceps femoris long head (BFLH) and anterior deltoids (AD). Secondary outcomes involved strength and power performance while the other tensiomyography variables [muscle displacement (Dm), contraction time (Tc)] were considered as exploratory. After 1-h, all the tensiomyography variables measured at VM and BFLH were similarly depressed in both treatments. Only MALT showed a significantly lower Vc (−0.02 m^.s⁻¹, 95% CI, −0.04, −0.01) in the AD. After 24-h, the VGMT treatment normalized all tensiomyography values. Conversely, impaired scores were observed in Vc for the VM (−0.03 m^.s⁻¹, 95% CI, −0.06, −0.01) and BFLH (−0.02 m^.s⁻¹, 95% CI, −0.05, 0.01) in the MALT treatment. Particularly, the Vc in VM was lower (p = 0.043) in MALT compared to VGMT. Overall, both treatments required 48-h to regain their performance capacity; however, VGMT produced better vertical jump and squat performance at 24-h vs. MALT. Compared to MALT, a vegan-protein multi-ingredient appears to hasten the recovery of muscular function over a 24-h period.

Keywords:

• multi-nutrient supplement
• muscular contractile properties: strength
• power
• tensiomyography

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the participants for their time and effort to complete the assessments and training protocol. Special acknowledge to Kelly Cooper, Rammez Mitry, Yousuf Ahmad and Sean Sears for their valuable cooperation and support during the data collection.

Authors’ contribution

FN and ELZ designed the study. MS, FN and JP-F collected the data. FN, ELZ and MS analyzed the data FN, ELZ and CPE drafted the manuscript. All authors revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content and gave final approval of the final version.

Disclosure statement

The results of the current study are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this manuscript.

Data availability statement

Data will be made available upon request to the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

Crown® Sport Nutrition and The University of Greenwich are providing joint funding to the completion of this project, however this does not affect this original research content and purpose.

Notes on contributors

Fernando Naclerio, PhD

Dr Fernando Naclerio, Associate Professor Associate Professor in Strength Training and Sports Nutrition Programme Leader MSc Strength and Conditioning Department of Sport Science and Physical Education School of Human Science. Centre of Life-course development. University of Greenwich.

Marcos Seijo, PhD

Dr Marcos Seijo, Lecturer in Sport Physilogy. Department of Sport Science and Physical Education School of Human Science. Centre of Life-course development. University of Greenwich.

Conrad P. Earnest , PhD

Dr Conrad P. Earnest Texas Expert in Sport Nutrition. A&M University | TAMU · Department of Health and Kinesiology.

Joel Puente-Fernández, MSc

Mr Joel Punte-Fernandez, PhD student affiliated to the Department of Sport Science and Physical Education School of Human Science. Centre of Life-course development. University of Greenwich

Eneko Larumbe-Zabala, PhD

Dr Eneko Larumbe-Zabala, Consultant researcher. School of Doctorate and Research, European University of Madrid, Spain.