Protein2026-06

Greek Yogurt Compared with Whey Protein Supplementation in Adolescent Athletes Throughout a Competitive Season.

Bell Madison, Narciso Pedro Henrique, Miskolczi Ethan, Retsidou Maria I et al. — The Journal of nutrition

Summary

この研究は、青年アスリートが競技シーズン中にギリシャヨーグルトとホエイプロテインのどちらを摂取するかで、骨の健康や炎症に違いが出るかを調査しました。結果として、どちらのタンパク質源も骨や炎症の指標にわずかで、性別による差が見られる程度の変化をもたらし、タンパク質源そのものよりも摂取量の方が重要である可能性を示唆しました。

AI-generated summary — read the original

Key points

Adolescent athletes require sufficient protein for healthy bone development and immune function.
This study compared the effects of Greek yogurt (a whole food) and whey protein supplements on these markers.
Both protein sources led to mostly modest and often sex-specific changes in bone and inflammation markers.
No clear superior effect was found for one protein source over the other in this group.

What the study looked at

The study aimed to understand if the *type* of protein source—specifically, a whole food like Greek yogurt versus a processed supplement like whey protein—affected bone health and inflammation markers differently in adolescent athletes. Researchers followed adolescent athletes through a competitive season. After an initial period on their usual diets, participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups for 16 weeks. One group added two servings of Greek yogurt daily, while the other received an equivalent amount of protein from a whey protein supplement. Blood samples were regularly collected to measure various markers related to bone formation, breakdown, and inflammation. The findings indicated that both Greek yogurt and whey protein supplementation resulted in generally modest and often sex-specific fluctuations in bone and inflammatory markers. While some specific markers showed temporary changes or differences between sexes, the study did not identify a clear superior effect of one protein source over the other for overall bone development or immune status in these young athletes. The changes observed were likely influenced by factors like growth and training intensity during the season.

Dietary takeaway

For adolescent athletes, ensuring adequate protein intake is crucial for supporting bone development and immune function. This study suggests that both whole food sources like Greek yogurt and protein supplements can contribute effectively to this, with no major differences observed between them for the specific markers examined. However, it's important to remember that this is just one study, and individual needs can vary, so a balanced diet with diverse protein sources is generally recommended.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Protein intake during adolescence may influence bone development and immune status, yet the comparative effects of wholefood protein sources compared with protein isolates in adolescent athletes remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of Greek yogurt (GY) and whey protein (WP) supplementation on bone and inflammation markers in adolescent athletes throughout a competitive season. METHODS: Athletes completed an initial control period on their habitual diets (weeks 0‒8), followed by randomization to GY (n = 24; 15.8 ± 1.1 y; 11 females) or WP (n = 23; 16.0 ± 1.4 y; 10 females) for a 16-wk intervention (weeks 8‒24). GY consumed 2 servings per day of 175 g GY (17 g protein); WP received an isonitrogenous WP supplement. Blood samples and body composition assessments were obtained at weeks 0, 8, 16, and 24. RESULTS: Procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide, insulin-like growth factor-1, and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand remained stable. Osteocalcin and osteoprotegerin showed sex-specific between-group differences: osteocalcin declined throughout weeks 0‒24 in GY males, whereas osteoprotegerin declined during weeks 0‒16 in GY females and was elevated at the end of the control period in WP females. C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen and sclerostin showed intervention group-dependent, but not sex-dependent, differences. C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen increased transiently from week 8 to week 16 and returned to baseline by week 24 only in GY. Sclerostin concentrations fluctuated, and at 24 wk, were not different from baseline in GY but were higher than baseline in WP. At week 16, interleukin (IL)-1β increased in WP, and IL-6 decreased in GY. IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor α increased during the control period and decreased with WP only in females. CONCLUSIONS: Increased protein intake, independent of source, was associated with modest, often sex-specific fluctuations in bone and inflammatory markers in adolescent athletes, potentially influenced by growth and training-related factors across the competitive season. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05922462.

View on PubMed →DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101524