The Impact of Protein and Amino Acid Supplementation on Muscular Strength and Endurance in Recreational Gym-Goers During 8-Week Resistance Training
<b>Objective:</b> Most recreational gym-goers independently consume nutritional supplements (NSs) without physician advice and a personalized diet. The present study examines the preference for nutritional supplements (NSs) based on protein and amino acids of 218 recreational gym-goers (...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Sandor-Richard Nagy Magdalena Mititelu Ruxandra-Cristina Marin Violeta Popovici Annamaria Pallag Tünde Jurca |
| author_facet | Sandor-Richard Nagy Magdalena Mititelu Ruxandra-Cristina Marin Violeta Popovici Annamaria Pallag Tünde Jurca |
| author_sort | Sandor-Richard Nagy |
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| description | <b>Objective:</b> Most recreational gym-goers independently consume nutritional supplements (NSs) without physician advice and a personalized diet. The present study examines the preference for nutritional supplements (NSs) based on protein and amino acids of 218 recreational gym-goers (males and females aged 18–60). It also investigates the NS’s impact on resistance training (RT) performance. <b>Methods:</b> All participants (<i>n</i> = 218) were regular members of two gym centers in Oradea. Baseline data and information about daily diet and supplement preferences were obtained through face-to-face interviews. At the same time, RT performance was assessed by measuring 1RM in six exercises three times (W0, W4, and W8). <b>Results:</b> Our findings reveal that 24.3% of participants did not consume NSs, while the majority (75.6%, <i>p</i> < 0.05) used them to improve their physical condition; men were more likely to consume NSs than women (83.3% vs. 63.9%, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Gym-goers were grouped based on their NS consumption: L-carnitine, creatine, whey protein (WP), and triple combination; the non-supplemented group was the control. The combination substantially correlated with a balanced diet, 3001–3500 and >3500 calories/day; creatine was appreciably associated with 2001–2500 calories/day; L-carnitine was associated with 151–200 g protein/day, while control was considerably linked with a vegetarian diet and <1000 calorie/day (r > 0.900, <i>p</i> < 0.05). The results showed that almost all participants exhibited progressive muscle strength improvements. As an overview, 1RM substantially varied with NS consumed, body weight status, and gender (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), except for the pull-up count, which varied with NS and gender (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Additionally, 1RM significantly varied with age (deadlift and pull-ups), daily protein consumption (back squats, biceps, and triceps), daily calories (back squats), and diet type (biceps, triceps, and pull-up exercises), <i>p</i> < 0.05. On the other hand, most NSs associated with RT exercises led to a general increase in body weight. Only L-carnitine decreased it. <b>Conclusions:</b> Resistance training records of recreational athletes are significantly influenced by age, gender, body weight status, NS type, and daily diet features (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Our findings highlight the essential role of professional guidance in nutritional supplementation associated with a suitable diet for optimal RT performance of recreational athletes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c0a315fb6d174ba8b0f722f90bc7f768 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c0a315fb6d174ba8b0f722f90bc7f7682025-08-20T03:29:52ZengMDPI AGSports2075-46632025-06-0113618210.3390/sports13060182The Impact of Protein and Amino Acid Supplementation on Muscular Strength and Endurance in Recreational Gym-Goers During 8-Week Resistance TrainingSandor-Richard Nagy0Magdalena Mititelu1Ruxandra-Cristina Marin2Violeta Popovici3Annamaria Pallag4Tünde Jurca5Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, RomaniaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory and Food Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, RomaniaDoctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, RomaniaCenter for Mountain Economics, “Costin C. Kiriţescu” National Institute of Economic Research, Romanian Academy, 725700 Vatra-Dornei, RomaniaDoctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, RomaniaDoctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania<b>Objective:</b> Most recreational gym-goers independently consume nutritional supplements (NSs) without physician advice and a personalized diet. The present study examines the preference for nutritional supplements (NSs) based on protein and amino acids of 218 recreational gym-goers (males and females aged 18–60). It also investigates the NS’s impact on resistance training (RT) performance. <b>Methods:</b> All participants (<i>n</i> = 218) were regular members of two gym centers in Oradea. Baseline data and information about daily diet and supplement preferences were obtained through face-to-face interviews. At the same time, RT performance was assessed by measuring 1RM in six exercises three times (W0, W4, and W8). <b>Results:</b> Our findings reveal that 24.3% of participants did not consume NSs, while the majority (75.6%, <i>p</i> < 0.05) used them to improve their physical condition; men were more likely to consume NSs than women (83.3% vs. 63.9%, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Gym-goers were grouped based on their NS consumption: L-carnitine, creatine, whey protein (WP), and triple combination; the non-supplemented group was the control. The combination substantially correlated with a balanced diet, 3001–3500 and >3500 calories/day; creatine was appreciably associated with 2001–2500 calories/day; L-carnitine was associated with 151–200 g protein/day, while control was considerably linked with a vegetarian diet and <1000 calorie/day (r > 0.900, <i>p</i> < 0.05). The results showed that almost all participants exhibited progressive muscle strength improvements. As an overview, 1RM substantially varied with NS consumed, body weight status, and gender (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), except for the pull-up count, which varied with NS and gender (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Additionally, 1RM significantly varied with age (deadlift and pull-ups), daily protein consumption (back squats, biceps, and triceps), daily calories (back squats), and diet type (biceps, triceps, and pull-up exercises), <i>p</i> < 0.05. On the other hand, most NSs associated with RT exercises led to a general increase in body weight. Only L-carnitine decreased it. <b>Conclusions:</b> Resistance training records of recreational athletes are significantly influenced by age, gender, body weight status, NS type, and daily diet features (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Our findings highlight the essential role of professional guidance in nutritional supplementation associated with a suitable diet for optimal RT performance of recreational athletes.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/6/182whey proteincreatineL-carnitinerecreational gym-goersresistance trainingone repetition maximum |
| spellingShingle | Sandor-Richard Nagy Magdalena Mititelu Ruxandra-Cristina Marin Violeta Popovici Annamaria Pallag Tünde Jurca The Impact of Protein and Amino Acid Supplementation on Muscular Strength and Endurance in Recreational Gym-Goers During 8-Week Resistance Training Sports whey protein creatine L-carnitine recreational gym-goers resistance training one repetition maximum |
| title | The Impact of Protein and Amino Acid Supplementation on Muscular Strength and Endurance in Recreational Gym-Goers During 8-Week Resistance Training |
| title_full | The Impact of Protein and Amino Acid Supplementation on Muscular Strength and Endurance in Recreational Gym-Goers During 8-Week Resistance Training |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Protein and Amino Acid Supplementation on Muscular Strength and Endurance in Recreational Gym-Goers During 8-Week Resistance Training |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Protein and Amino Acid Supplementation on Muscular Strength and Endurance in Recreational Gym-Goers During 8-Week Resistance Training |
| title_short | The Impact of Protein and Amino Acid Supplementation on Muscular Strength and Endurance in Recreational Gym-Goers During 8-Week Resistance Training |
| title_sort | impact of protein and amino acid supplementation on muscular strength and endurance in recreational gym goers during 8 week resistance training |
| topic | whey protein creatine L-carnitine recreational gym-goers resistance training one repetition maximum |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/6/182 |
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