Protein Diet in Athletes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Protein Diet in Athletes - Essay Example The muscle growth depends on the balance between protein synthesis (anabolism) and protein breakdown (catabolism). Exercise affects this balance and for activities that cause muscle hypertrophy, the anabolic process must exceed the catabolic process. In highly physically active individuals, proteins enhance nitrogen retention and prevent protein catabolism during prolonged exercise. Besides, they prevent sports anemia and resynthesize muscle glycogen after exercise. The balance between anabolic and catabolic processes in the body can be determined by the essential amino acid, leucine. A positive leucine balance indicates the presence of the acid in the cells that favor protein anabolism. Decrease in amino acid availability due to low protein intake increases muscle protein catabolism while increased amino acid availability stimulates muscle protein synthesis and greater muscle anabolism. Hormones such as insulin and testosterone also play a role in muscle protein synthesis and hypert rophy. After exercise, insulin inhibits further muscle protein breakdown, and when small amounts of amino acids are ingested with carbohydrates, transient muscle protein anabolism occurs since carbohydrates restore supply. Amino acid supplementation and impact the athlete’s performance No consensus has been reached on the role of amino acid supplementation on athlete’s performance. Williams (2005) noted that when branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) supplementation is used before and after exercise.