Exercise-Induced Dehydration Limits the Effectiveness of Post-Exercise Whey Protein Supplementation in Healthy Young Men
- 1Department of Sport Biochemistry, School of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
- 2China Institute of Sport and Health Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
- 3Key Laboratory of Sports Stress and Adaptation, General Administration of Sport, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Post-exercise protein ingestion is widely used to promote recovery from exercise, but whether exercise-induced dehydration limits the subsequent protein supplementation response remains unclear. This study examined the effects of different hydration strategies during exercise on post-exercise whey protein supplementation. Methods: Thirteen healthy young men completed three partially crossover trials designed to produce approximately 2% (DEH: a dehydration trial without fluid replacement), 1% (EUH_50%: a 50% fluid-replacement trial), and 0% (EUH: a euhydration trial with 100% fluid replacement) body mass loss. Within 5 min after each exercise, participants ingested 45 g of whey protein dissolved in 450 mL of water. Serum amino acid concentrations were measured before exercise, immediately after exercise, and at 60 and 120 min after ingestion. Results: The protocol produced distinct exercise hydration status, with body mass loss of 2.20 ± 0.19% (DEH), 1.18 ± 0.30% (EUH_50%), and 0.27 ± 0.35% (EUH), respectively. Post-exercise whey protein ingestion increased serum amino acid concentrations in all trials. However, at 60 min after ingestion, the DEH trial showed lower total amino acid, branched-chain amino acid, leucine, isoleucine, and glutamine concentrations than both EUH_50% and EUH (all p < 0.05). The 0–120 min percentage incremental area under the curve for total amino acids, branched-chain amino acids, isoleucine, and glutamine was also lower in DEH. Gastrointestinal symptoms remained low across all conditions, with only 1.0% of individual item scores exceeding 4. Conclusions: These findings indicate that exercise-induced hypohydration of approximately 2.2% body mass attenuates the early circulating amino acid response to post-exercise whey protein ingestion, suggesting that inadequate fluid intake during exercise may compromise the efficacy of whey protein supplementation for post-exercise recovery.
Related
- Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for the management of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Protein supplementation and resistance training-induced strength gains in young adults: a meta-analysis
- Identification of a Candidate IgE-Binding Maize Protein in a Patient With Corn-Dependent Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis: A Case Report.
- Effectiveness of Honey Supplementation to Overcome Depressive Symptoms in University Students: An Evidence-based Quasi-experimental Study from Indonesia.
- Dietary carbamoyl aspartate supplementation alleviates high-fat diet induced lipid metabolism disorder in broilers
BibTeX
@article{xin2026exerciseinduced,
title = {{Exercise-Induced Dehydration Limits the Effectiveness of Post-Exercise Whey Protein Supplementation in Healthy Young Men}},
author = {Zekun Xin and Mengtong Gao and Xinjie Wu and Min See and Peng Cheng and Yi Yan},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nu18193267},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13666918},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Exercise-Induced Dehydration Limits the Effectiveness of Post-Exercise Whey Protein Supplementation in Healthy Young Men
AU - Zekun Xin
AU - Mengtong Gao
AU - Xinjie Wu
AU - Min See
AU - Peng Cheng
AU - Yi Yan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18193267
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13666918
AB - Background/Objectives: Post-exercise protein ingestion is widely used to promote recovery from exercise, but whether exercise-induced dehydration limits the subsequent protein supplementation response remains unclear. This study examined the effects of different hydration strategies during exercise on post-exercise whey protein supplementation. Methods: Thirteen healthy young men completed three partially crossover trials designed to produce approximately 2% (DEH: a dehydration trial without fluid replacement), 1% (EUH_50%: a 50% fluid-replacement trial), and 0% (EUH: a euhydration trial with 100% fluid replacement) body mass loss. Within 5 min after each exercise, participants ingested 45 g of whey protein dissolved in 450 mL of water. Serum amino acid concentrations were measured before exercise, immediately after exercise, and at 60 and 120 min after ingestion. Results: The protocol produced distinct exercise hydration status, with body mass loss of 2.20 ± 0.19% (DEH), 1.18 ± 0.30% (EUH_50%), and 0.27 ± 0.35% (EUH), respectively. Post-exercise whey protein ingestion increased serum amino acid concentrations in all trials. However, at 60 min after ingestion, the DEH trial showed lower total amino acid, branched-chain amino acid, leucine, isoleucine, and glutamine concentrations than both EUH_50% and EUH (all p < 0.05). The 0–120 min percentage incremental area under the curve for total amino acids, branched-chain amino acids, isoleucine, and glutamine was also lower in DEH. Gastrointestinal symptoms remained low across all conditions, with only 1.0% of individual item scores exceeding 4. Conclusions: These findings indicate that exercise-induced hypohydration of approximately 2.2% body mass attenuates the early circulating amino acid response to post-exercise whey protein ingestion, suggesting that inadequate fluid intake during exercise may compromise the efficacy of whey protein supplementation for post-exercise recovery.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -