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Strengthen your brand with the science-backed benefits of whey protein for muscle building and strength.
Whey protein has unique properties that make it the preferred choice for sports nutrition products that support muscle protein synthesis—a process that drives muscle building, strength, and recovery.
Whey protein is packed with essential amino acids, which are necessary to stimulate protein synthesis, while its complete amino acid profile ensures all the amino acids are available in the correct ratios to fully support the process.
Whey protein is rich in the three branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) leucine, isoleucine, and valine, which help the body recover from exercise more quickly. Leucine plays a special role by activating the mTOR signaling pathway, thereby triggering the process of protein synthesis in the muscle. In addition, leucine and its metabolites can reduce muscle protein breakdown.
Other whey protein muscle benefits include a fast absorption rate, which makes amino acids available to the muscle quickly. Whey proteins are also rich in arginine and lysine, which may increase the release of growth hormone, a stimulator of muscle growth.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that exercise supplemented with whey protein leads to increases in muscle growth (lean body mass gains) and strength. These benefits of whey protein have significant implications for a wide variety of athletic endeavors since they impact on overall athletic fitness and performance.
Research on whey protein for muscle gain has shown that participants supplementing with whey protein during a six-week period of resistance training had a greater lean body mass than those engaged in training without supplementation.1 (Combining whey protein with creatine produced even greater increases in both lean tissue mass and bench press results.)2
With resistance training, daily supplementation with whey protein has also been found to be more effective than soy protein in promoting gains in lean body mass, pointing to the importance of protein quality, particularly the protein’s leucine content.3 Whey protein isolate also leads to greater lean body mass gains when compared with casein.4
Besides muscle gains, results show that whey protein supplementation for four weeks enhanced resistance exercise-induced increases in overall muscular strength and endurance, compared to no supplementation,5 and produced greater strength improvements in a ten-week test compared to casein.6
Another study demonstrated improved muscle strength of the upper body and lower body vertical jump together with 12 weeks of whey protein supplementation and recommended that whey protein should be used in strength and competitive sports.7 In healthy, active older people, resistance exercise combined with whey protein supplementation resulted in improvements in skeletal muscle strength, mass, and physical function.8
These whey protein muscle benefits help support overall athletic performance by improving the overall strength of the body and, through whey protein’s role in muscle recovery and repair, support athletic endurance. Reducing exercise-induced muscle damage and soreness allows athletes to return to training more quickly and train more frequently with higher intensity to improve their endurance over time.
The effect on muscle protein synthesis, and hence recovery, is one of the most important benefits of whey protein for all types of athletes. Research shows whey protein isolate supplementation helped reduce the loss of muscle strength during recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage.9 The muscle damage markers creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase are also reduced with whey protein supplementation.
The benefits of whey protein for muscle gain make it perfect for products targeting weight lifters and body builders, while the strength and performance support can appeal to those involved in demanding sports and activities like basketball, soccer, running, and swimming.
Popular sports nutrition formats are ready-to-mix (RTM) protein powder shakes, as well as options that offer on-the-go convenience like ready-to-drink (RTD) protein beverages and protein bars. Indulgent flavors are trending for protein bars, including chocolate, yogurt and peach in China. In Japan and South Korea, both chocolate and cookies & cream are favorites.
Asian consumers are also interested in getting their protein from alternative formats, such as cookies and crisps, which can be eaten as a reward after a workout or as a healthy treat for any time of the day that supports their nutrition and fitness goals.
Whey protein products can be positioned for the pre-workout occasion by incorporating energy ingredients like caffeine, or for post-workout, with extra recovery ingredients like electrolytes. A product with whey protein for body building might include creatine for synergistic benefits to enhance performance (taken pre-workout) or accelerate recovery (taken post-workout).
Whey protein offers high protein quality with muscle, strength, and performance benefits backed by science. Brands that harness its full potential will be well-positioned to lead the market with innovative, effective, and highly sought-after product offerings.
Partner with Glanbia Nutritionals to incorporate the muscle-building prowess of whey protein into your sports nutrition products. Reach out today to spearhead the future of fitness nutrition with offerings that promise unparalleled strength and recovery benefits.