Fitness and Health Research Findings Blog

Here we go, more research on how superior casein hydrosylates are.

We compare the effects of a moderate hypocaloric, high-protein diet and resistance training, using two different protein supplements, versus hypocaloric diet alone on body compositional changes in overweight police officers. A randomized, prospective 12-week study was performed comparing the changes in body composition produced by three different treatment modalities in three study groups. One group (n = 10) was placed on a nonlipogenic, hypocaloric diet alone (80% of predicted needs). A second group (n = 14) was placed on the hypocaloric diet plus resistance exercise plus a high-protein intake (1.5 g/kg/day) using a casein protein hydrolysate. In the third group (n = 14) treatment was identical to the second, except for the use of a whey protein hydrolysate. We found that weight loss was approximately 2.5 kg in all three groups. Mean percent body fat with diet alone decreased from a baseline of 27 +/- 1.8 to 25 +/- 1.3% at 12 weeks. With diet, exercise and casein the decrease was from 26 +/- 1.7 to 18 +/- 1.1% and with diet, exercise and whey protein the decrease was from 27 +/- 1.6 to 23 +/- 1.3%. The mean fat loss was 2. 5 +/- 0.6, 7.0 +/- 2.1 and 4.2 +/- 0.9 kg in the three groups, respectively. Lean mass gains in the three groups did not change for diet alone, versus gains of 4 +/- 1.4 and 2 +/- 0.7 kg in the casein and whey groups, respectively. Mean increase in strength for chest, shoulder and legs was 59 +/- 9% for casein and 29 +/- 9% for whey, a significant group difference. This significant difference in body composition and strength is likely due to improved nitrogen retention and overall anticatabolic effects caused by the peptide components of the casein hydrolysate. Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel

PMID: 10838463 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

The consensus seems  that whey stays liquid and is absorbed in your small intestine within 2 hours. It is NOT anti-catabolic at all. Casein curdles and becomes protein jello that takes 8 hours to digest in your large intestine. It is extremely anti-catabolic. The study below looks at whey vs casein protein.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a low-calorie, high-protein diet (using two different protein supplements) and resistance training (weight lifting), versus a low-calorie diet alone, on body composition changes in overweight police officers. The first group of 10 officers was placed on a low-calorie diet alone. The second group of 14 officers was placed on a low-calorie diet and given 1.5 grams per kilogram bodyweight per day of a casein protein supplement. The third group of 14 officers followed an identical regimen to the second but the supplement consumed was whey-based protein. Both groups 2 and 3 engaged in a resistance-training program in conjunction with their diet. Programs were maintained for 12 weeks. All groups lost an average of 5.5 pounds. At 12 weeks, the average percent body fat with diet alone decreased from 27% to 25%, the casein protein group decreased from 26% to 18% and the whey protein group from 27% to 23%. The average fat loss was 5.5, 15.4 and 9.3 pounds in the three groups respectively. Lean muscle mass gains did not occur in the group that was on a low-calorie diet alone. But the casein group had an average lean muscle mass gain of 8.8 pounds and the whey group an average increase of 4.4 pounds. Average increase in strength for chest, shoulder and legs was 59% for the casein group and 29% for the whey group, resulting in a significant difference as compared with the diet-only group. The researchers concluded that differences in body composition and strength are likely due to improved nitrogen retention (being in positive nitrogen balance, allowing for tissue building) and overall anticatabolic effects (prevention of muscle breakdown) caused by the casein proteins’ peptide (chains of amino acids that make up the protein) content.

Something I’ll have to incorporate because I’m on a unflinching pleateu. I’m curious to here opinion from people who have tried this workout.

For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure — or pain — of ever having tried GVT, it involves, rather simply, doing 10 sets of the same exercise, with the goal being to do 10 reps per set. Of course, the goal is more or less theoretical, because if you can actually do ten full sets of ten, you’re not using a heavy enough weight.

Scientifically speaking, by exposing a group of motor units to such a high volume of work, the body adapts to the incredible amount of stress by growing the targeted fibers at a pretty fast rate. And, along the same lines, the large training volume appears to contribute not only to increased mass, but decreased body fat (Hather, et al, 1992; Stone, O’Bryant, and Garhammer, 1981).

Read more here.

The following key points summarize the current recommendations for  competitive athletes in this position paper.

Protein recommendations for resistance and strength-trained athletes are 1.6 to 1.7 g/kg bodyweight per day. It has been recommended that experienced male bodybuilders and strength athletes consume 1.6 to 1.7 g/kg bodyweight per day to allow for the accumulation and maintenance of lean tissue.

Athletes should be aware that increasing protein intake beyond the recommended levels is unlikely to result in increases in lean tissue

because there is a limit to the rate at which protein tissue can be accrued.

I love reading these articles for number of reasons.  It dispels myths that these ignorant gym rats rant about.  It helps understand what is happening at a scientific level rather than understanding from trial and error as most of these myths are derived from. Without further ado, I present you the first one…

  Consuming the drink immediately following the workout will elicit the greatest protein synthesis.

It’s amazing to see how more advanced, and often experienced, people behave in the gym when it comes to getting their post workout meal. Some guys even sit there, right after their last set, and slug back a drink! In fact I’ve even heard “as soon as the weight hits the floor” touted as the war cry for the hardcore. While this is actually a sub-optimal practice for muscle growth and recovery, not to mention borderline obsessive compulsive, it’s good to see their heart is the right place.
Comparing research that used drinks consumed immediately after a workout (Tipton et al., 2001) versus those ingested an hour after training (Rasmussen et al., 2000), the results are surprising: it seems that post workout meal ingestion actually results in 30% lower protein synthesis rates than when we wait! So every time we thought that we were badass for drinking “as soon as the weight hit the floor, we were actually short changing ourselves. Not a big deal. Let’s just learn, adapt, and move on.
Strike two for the one hour post workout window.

You can read more here.

Here is a great study on the results produced when using Whey and Casein protein and aminos over a placebo of Dextrose. Look at the values that increased.

This study examined 10 wks of resistance training and the ingestion of supplemental protein and amino acids on muscle performance and markers of muscle anabolism. Nineteen untrained males were randomly assigned to supplement groups containing either 20 g protein (14 g whey and casein protein, 6 g free amino acids) or 20 g dextrose placebo ingested 1 h before and after exercise for a total of 40 g/d. Participants exercised 4 times/wk using 3 sets of 6-8 repetitions at 85-90% of the one repetition maximum. Data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA (p<0.05). The protein supplement resulted in greater increases in total body mass, fat-free mass, thigh mass, muscle strength, serum IGF-1, IGF-1 mRNA, MHC I and IIa expression, and myofibrillar protein. Ten-wks of resistance training with 20 g protein and amino acids ingested 1 h before and after exercise is more effective than carbohydrate placebo in up-regulating markers of muscle protein synthesis and anabolism along with subsequent improvements in muscle performance.

PMID: 16988909 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

According to this study, A Review of Issues of Dietary Protein Intake in Humans,written by Shane Bilsborough and Neil Mann, it states…

Absorption rates of amino acids from the gut can vary from 1.4 g/h for raw egg white to 8 to 10 g/h for whey protein isolate. Slowly absorbed amino acids suchas casein (~ 6 g/h) and repeated small doses of whey protein (2.9 g per 20 min,
totaling ~ 7 g/h) promote leucine balance, a marker of protein balance, superior tothat of a single dose of 30 g of whey protein or free amino acids which are both rapidly absorbed (8 to 10 g/h), and enhance amino acid oxidation.

Quite interesting. It drives home the point that eating smaller portioned meals of less than 15-10 grams of protein is optimal. It also tells us that ingesting 40 grams of protein whey for post-workout drink is not only a waste of money as it gets excreted or is converted into carbs and then stored as body fat, among other things.

Designed by the “perpetually miserable,” the Pessimist’s Mug is not suitable for drinking either milk or White Russians. It costs $9.95, and if you buy it you can moan that you never got your money’s worth.

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