This study will analyze the effects of Greek yogurt consumption and an 12 week exercise intervention on muscle size, body composition and bone health in untrained, university-aged males.
Introduction: Previous research has shown the effectiveness of dairy milk and whey protein on increasing muscle size, optimizing body composition and increasing strength in adult males. However, evidence on the use of high protein/Greek yogurt on muscle size, body composition and bone health is limited in this population. Yogurt contains similar muscle and bone supporting nutrients as milk, yet it offers a host of additional benefits including; increased satiety, probiotic cultures, greater stability, increased variety, more affordable and versatile features such as acting as a vehicle for consumption of other healthful foods. The proposed research will investigate the use of Greek yogurt as an effective post-exercise food to promote healthy body composition and bone health changes in young adult males. Design: Parallel, randomized controlled trial. Participants: 30 (n=15 YOG, n=15 PLA) healthy, untrained university-aged males. Methods: Subjects will undergo a 12-week resistance and plyometric training program (exercising 3 days/week). The YOG group will consume a 200g dose (pro= 20g, carbs= 8 grams, \~110 kcals) of plain 0% Greek yogurt, while the PLA group will consume an isoenergetic, protein-void beverage comprised mainly of maltodextrin (pro= 0g, carbs= 26g, \~110 kcals). Each group will consume 3 doses per day (immediately and 1 hour post-exercise, and bedtime). Markers of bone health (CTx and P1NP) will be taken at baseline, 1 week and 12 weeks to determine acute and total changes. Muscle size, body composition, strength, vertical jump height and nutritional diaries will be measured pre and post intervention and habitual diet maintenance will be encouraged throughout the intervention. Anticipated Results: It is hypothesized that each group will undergo positive changes in the aforementioned measures, however due to the increase in protein and calcium consumption, the yogurt group is predicted to have significantly greater increases in these variables than the placebo group.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
12 weeks of Resistance (twice weekly) and Plyometric (once weekly) training
200g 3x/day for 12 weeks.
Iso-energetic to yogurt. 3x/day for 12 weeks.
Brock University
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Muscular Strength
1 Repetition Maximum of bench press, seated row, quad extension and hamstring curl
Time frame: Change from Baseline to 12 weeks
Muscle Size
Muscle Size determined by ultrasound at various sites.
Time frame: Change from Baseline to 12 weeks
Body Composition
Body Fat % measured via BodPod and BodyMetrix
Time frame: Change from Baseline to 12 weeks
Bone cell activity
Bone markers measured in serum.
Time frame: Change from Baseline to 12 weeks
Vertical Jump Height
measured via chalk-on-wall technique
Time frame: Change from Baseline to 12 weeks
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