Effects of a chickpea protein hydrolysate on exercise-induced biomarkers of muscle damage and inflammation in federated road cyclists.
García-Durán Jesús, Sánchez-Oliver Antonio J, Rodríguez-Martín Noelia M, Fernández-Pachón María-Soledad et al. — Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
Summary
A study investigated whether a special protein derived from chickpeas could help competitive cyclists recover from intense exercise. It found that taking this chickpea protein supplement for two weeks helped reduce some blood markers of muscle damage and inflammation compared to a placebo. This suggests it might aid the body's response to exercise stress.
AI-generated summary — read the original
Key points
- A chickpea protein supplement was tested on competitive road cyclists.
- It showed a positive effect on certain blood markers related to muscle damage and inflammation.
- This suggests it might help the body manage exercise-induced stress.
- The study was short-term and didn't directly measure recovery or performance.
What the study looked at
What question the study asked: Researchers wanted to know if a specific type of protein derived from chickpeas could help competitive cyclists reduce signs of muscle damage and inflammation after intense training. How it was studied (design/participants): They conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 24 male road cyclists. For 14 days, half the cyclists took a daily chickpea protein supplement, while the other half took a placebo, both after their training sessions. The scientists monitored their diet, training, and measured various blood markers related to muscle damage and inflammation before and after the study period. What it found: The study found that cyclists taking the chickpea protein supplement showed more favorable changes in certain blood markers, specifically lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and C-reactive protein (CRP), compared to those taking the placebo. These markers are commonly used to indicate muscle cell damage and inflammation. While other markers like creatine kinase also showed a positive trend, the difference wasn't statistically significant. This suggests the chickpea protein might help the body respond to the stress of exercise.
Dietary takeaway
This study suggests that specific protein components, like those from chickpeas, might play a role in managing the body's response to intense exercise. While it doesn't directly tell us to eat more chickpeas for recovery, it highlights the potential benefits of diverse protein sources. Remember, this is just one short-term study, and more research is needed to confirm these findings and understand their real-world impact on athletic performance and recovery.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examined the effects of a chickpea protein hydrolysate (CPH) on biomarkers associated with exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation in federated male road cyclists. METHODS: Twenty-four participants completed a 14-day intervention receiving either 12 g/day of chickpea protein hydrolysate (EXP) or a placebo (PLA) following training sessions. The selected dose was based on previous studies demonstrating antioxidant and immunomodulatory bioactive properties of the hydrolysate. Nutritional intake and training were registered. Body composition and biochemical markers of muscle damage and inflammation were assessed before and after the study. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in body composition, training load, or dietary intake between groups, indicating controlled experimental conditions. However, between-group analyses of change scores revealed significant differences for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; = 0.04) and C-reactive protein (CRP; = 0.02), favoring the experimental group. LDH decreased in the EXP group while increasing slightly in the placebo group, whereas CRP decreased in EXP and increased in PLA. Although creatine kinase (CK) showed a favorable pattern in the EXP group, the between-group comparison did not reach statistical significance ( = 0.062). Myoglobin followed a similar downward trend. The high baseline protein intake (>2 g/kg/day) and short intervention duration may have limited changes in body composition, nevertheless, the observed biomarker responses suggest that CPH supplementation may influence selected physiological processes associated with exercise-induced inflammation and cellular stress. CONCLUSIONS: In trained cyclists with high habitual protein intakes, 14 days of CPH supplementation did not alter body composition but was associated with favorable changes in selected biomarkers related to exercise-induced inflammation and cellular stress compared with placebo. Given the short intervention period and the absence of direct assessments of recovery or performance, these findings should be interpreted as short-term biochemical responses. Further studies are required to determine their physiological relevance and whether these biomarker changes translate into meaningful improvements in recovery, training adaptation, or athletic performance.
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Source: PubMed (PMID: 42828502). AI summaries are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice.