Effects of pork protein ingestion prior to and following performing the army combat fitness test: markers of performance
Background Military personnel engaged in intense activities must consume enough quality protein in their diet to maintain protein balance and promote recovery. Plant-based proteins are considered lower-quality protein sources than animal proteins due to their lower amount of essential amino acids (E...
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| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15502783.2025.2550150 |
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| author | Kelly Hines Hudson Lee Sarah E. Johnson Adriana Gil Nicolas D. Barringer Christopher J. Rasmussen Ryan Sowinski Drew E. Gonzalez Richard B. Kreider |
| author_facet | Kelly Hines Hudson Lee Sarah E. Johnson Adriana Gil Nicolas D. Barringer Christopher J. Rasmussen Ryan Sowinski Drew E. Gonzalez Richard B. Kreider |
| author_sort | Kelly Hines |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Military personnel engaged in intense activities must consume enough quality protein in their diet to maintain protein balance and promote recovery. Plant-based proteins are considered lower-quality protein sources than animal proteins due to their lower amount of essential amino acids (EAA) and only containing trace amounts of creatine. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ingestion of military-style meals-ready-to-eat (MREs) containing plant-based (Plant) or pork-based (Pork) sources or protein would affect recovery after the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT).Methods Twenty-three (n = 23) Corps of Cadets members participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and crossover-designed study where they consumed Plant or Pork protein containing MREs. On testing days, participants donated a blood sample and consumed a pre-exercise meal on testing days. After four hours, participants performed the ACFT. Participants were then fed 3 MREs daily containing ≈ 1,250 kcals, 145 g carbohydrate, 45 g protein, 60 g fat, providing 1.7 g/kg/d of protein. Plant-based MREs contained 15.2 g/d (0.20 g/kg/d) of EAA and 0.215 g/d (0.003 g/kg/d of creatine) compared to 22.9 g/d (0.31 g/kg/d) of EAA and 1.82 g/d (0.024 g/kg/d) of creatine in the pork-based MREs. Participants returned to the lab in a fasted condition at 0600 after 24, 48, and 72 hours of recovery while being fed 3 MREs daily and having markers of recovery assessed. On day 3, participants repeated the ACFT four hours after consuming an MRE. Data were analyzed using general linear model statistics and percentage changes from baseline with 95% confidence intervals.Results Univariate analysis revealed no significant interaction effects (p > 0.05) between treatments in performance variables. However, the percentage change from baseline analysis showed that participants improved hand-release push-up repetitions (Pork 5.0% [1.1, 8.9], p = 0.013; Plant 5.4% [1.5, 9.3], p = 0.007) and plank test time (Pork 18.8% [4.7, 32.9], p = 0.010; Plant 14.8% [0.6, 28.9], p = 0.041). Two-mile run times were faster with the Plant (−3.8% [−6.4, −1.1], p = 0.006), while non-significantly decreased with Pork (−2.0% [−4.7, 0.6], p = 0.125). Total ACFT score values (Pork 22.9 [5.9, 39.9], p = 0.009; Plant 12.9 [−4.1, 29.9], p = 0.134) increased from baseline with Pork (see Figure 1).Conclusion Results provide some evidence that the protein quality of the MREs can affect recovery and performance from intense military-style exercise. MREs should contain high-quality protein sources or be supplemented with 6–10 g/d of EAA and 2–3 g/d of creatine monohydrate to offset dietary deficiencies, particularly in military personnel following a plant-based diet. Registered clinical trial #ISRCTN47322504. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-62301699446945898b1ee5acb8ee9d22 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1550-2783 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-62301699446945898b1ee5acb8ee9d222025-08-24T03:36:12ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition1550-27832025-09-0122sup210.1080/15502783.2025.2550150Effects of pork protein ingestion prior to and following performing the army combat fitness test: markers of performanceKelly Hines0Hudson Lee1Sarah E. Johnson2Adriana Gil3Nicolas D. Barringer4Christopher J. Rasmussen5Ryan Sowinski6Drew E. Gonzalez7Richard B. Kreider8Texas A&M University, Exercise & Sport Nutrition Lab, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, College Station, TX, USATexas A&M University, Exercise & Sport Nutrition Lab, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, College Station, TX, USATexas A&M University, Exercise & Sport Nutrition Lab, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, College Station, TX, USATexas A&M University, Exercise & Sport Nutrition Lab, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, College Station, TX, USAGraduate School, Lionel University, Carpinteria, CA, USATexas A&M University, Exercise & Sport Nutrition Lab, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, College Station, TX, USATexas A&M University, Exercise & Sport Nutrition Lab, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, College Station, TX, USATexas A&M University, Exercise & Sport Nutrition Lab, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, College Station, TX, USATexas A&M University, Exercise & Sport Nutrition Lab, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, College Station, TX, USABackground Military personnel engaged in intense activities must consume enough quality protein in their diet to maintain protein balance and promote recovery. Plant-based proteins are considered lower-quality protein sources than animal proteins due to their lower amount of essential amino acids (EAA) and only containing trace amounts of creatine. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ingestion of military-style meals-ready-to-eat (MREs) containing plant-based (Plant) or pork-based (Pork) sources or protein would affect recovery after the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT).Methods Twenty-three (n = 23) Corps of Cadets members participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and crossover-designed study where they consumed Plant or Pork protein containing MREs. On testing days, participants donated a blood sample and consumed a pre-exercise meal on testing days. After four hours, participants performed the ACFT. Participants were then fed 3 MREs daily containing ≈ 1,250 kcals, 145 g carbohydrate, 45 g protein, 60 g fat, providing 1.7 g/kg/d of protein. Plant-based MREs contained 15.2 g/d (0.20 g/kg/d) of EAA and 0.215 g/d (0.003 g/kg/d of creatine) compared to 22.9 g/d (0.31 g/kg/d) of EAA and 1.82 g/d (0.024 g/kg/d) of creatine in the pork-based MREs. Participants returned to the lab in a fasted condition at 0600 after 24, 48, and 72 hours of recovery while being fed 3 MREs daily and having markers of recovery assessed. On day 3, participants repeated the ACFT four hours after consuming an MRE. Data were analyzed using general linear model statistics and percentage changes from baseline with 95% confidence intervals.Results Univariate analysis revealed no significant interaction effects (p > 0.05) between treatments in performance variables. However, the percentage change from baseline analysis showed that participants improved hand-release push-up repetitions (Pork 5.0% [1.1, 8.9], p = 0.013; Plant 5.4% [1.5, 9.3], p = 0.007) and plank test time (Pork 18.8% [4.7, 32.9], p = 0.010; Plant 14.8% [0.6, 28.9], p = 0.041). Two-mile run times were faster with the Plant (−3.8% [−6.4, −1.1], p = 0.006), while non-significantly decreased with Pork (−2.0% [−4.7, 0.6], p = 0.125). Total ACFT score values (Pork 22.9 [5.9, 39.9], p = 0.009; Plant 12.9 [−4.1, 29.9], p = 0.134) increased from baseline with Pork (see Figure 1).Conclusion Results provide some evidence that the protein quality of the MREs can affect recovery and performance from intense military-style exercise. MREs should contain high-quality protein sources or be supplemented with 6–10 g/d of EAA and 2–3 g/d of creatine monohydrate to offset dietary deficiencies, particularly in military personnel following a plant-based diet. Registered clinical trial #ISRCTN47322504.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15502783.2025.2550150Mresprotein sourcerecoverymilitary fitness |
| spellingShingle | Kelly Hines Hudson Lee Sarah E. Johnson Adriana Gil Nicolas D. Barringer Christopher J. Rasmussen Ryan Sowinski Drew E. Gonzalez Richard B. Kreider Effects of pork protein ingestion prior to and following performing the army combat fitness test: markers of performance Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition Mres protein source recovery military fitness |
| title | Effects of pork protein ingestion prior to and following performing the army combat fitness test: markers of performance |
| title_full | Effects of pork protein ingestion prior to and following performing the army combat fitness test: markers of performance |
| title_fullStr | Effects of pork protein ingestion prior to and following performing the army combat fitness test: markers of performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of pork protein ingestion prior to and following performing the army combat fitness test: markers of performance |
| title_short | Effects of pork protein ingestion prior to and following performing the army combat fitness test: markers of performance |
| title_sort | effects of pork protein ingestion prior to and following performing the army combat fitness test markers of performance |
| topic | Mres protein source recovery military fitness |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15502783.2025.2550150 |
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