Pilates training, a type of mind and body exercise that focuses on muscle strength and flexibility, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Research has shown that Pilates could be an effective exercise form to improve body composition, particularly in obese individuals, while beneficial effects on flexibility, muscular strength, and muscular endurance have also been observed in young and older adults. It is well documented that protein supplementation can augment the effects of resistance training on body composition and performance. While there is an abundance of studies investigating the effect of protein supplements on adaptations to resistance exercise, there is a knowledge gap regarding their effectiveness in Pilates training. The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of protein supplementation, compared to placebo (maltodextrin) on body composition, performance, and biochemical indices in healthy young and middle-aged, eumenorrheic (regular menstrual cycle) women who perform Pilates. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either 0.6 g of whey protein or maltodextrin per kg body weight per day for 10 weeks. Participants will be asked to avoid modifying their dietary habits for the duration of the study to limit the effect of diet on the measured parameters. To check for this, participants will record their diet for 3 days (2 weekdays and one weekend day) on the first, middle, and last weeks of the intervention. Dietary records will then be analyzed. Pilates classes will be performed at least two times per week, while specialized Pilates equipment (Reformer or Cadillac) will be used according to the Pilates principles. The duration of each workout will be set at around 50 min. Participants will undergo measurements of body composition, core muscle endurance, and joint flexibility at the beginning and end of the study. In addition, hematologic parameters, clinical chemistry parameters, hormones, and plasma amino acids will be measured. All these outcome measures will be compared between the whey protein and maltodextrin groups to determine the effectiveness of protein supplementation in Pilates training.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
20
Intake of whey protein
Intake of maltodextrin
Laboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance
Thessaloniki, Greece
Lean mass and fat mass pre-supplementation
Lean mass and fat mass of the whole body and its parts (arms, legs, trunk) will be assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Whole body lean, dry lean and fat mass will also be assessed by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Lean mass and fat mass post-supplementation
Lean mass and fat mass of the whole body and its parts (arms, legs, trunk) will be assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Whole body lean, dry lean and fat mass will also be assessed by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Bone mineral density pre-supplementation
Bone mineral density of the whole body and its parts (arms, legs, trunk) will be assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Bone mineral density post-supplementation
Bone mineral density of the whole body and its parts (arms, legs, trunk) will be assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Bone mineral content pre-supplementation
Bone mineral content of the whole body and its parts (arms, legs, trunk) will be assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Bone mineral content post-supplementation
Bone mineral content of the whole body and its parts (arms, legs, trunk) will be assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Bone area pre-supplementation
Bone area of the whole body and its parts (arms, legs, trunk) will be assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Bone area post-supplementation
Bone area of the whole body and its parts (arms, legs, trunk) will be assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Body fat % and lean % pre-supplementation
Body fat as a % of total body weight will be assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry and multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Lean as a % of total body weight will be assessed by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Body fat % and lean % post-supplementation
Body fat as a % of total body weight will be assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry and multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Lean as a % of total body weight will be assessed by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Body weight pre-supplementation
Body weight will be measured with an electronic scale to the nearest 0.1 kg
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Body weight post-supplementation
Body weight will be measured with an electronic scale to the nearest 0.1 kg
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Waist and hip circumferences pre-supplementation
Waist and hip circumferences will be measured with a non-extendable tape
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Waist and hip circumferences post-supplementation
Waist and hip circumferences will be measured with a non-extendable tape
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Joint flexibility pre-supplementation
Joint flexibility will be assessed through the sit and reach test.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Joint flexibility post-supplementation
Joint flexibility will be assessed through the sit and reach test.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Core muscle endurance pre-supplementation
Core muscle endurance (trunk flexor, trunk lateral right, trunk lateral left, and trunk extensors) will be assessed through the McGill's torso muscular endurance test battery.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Core muscle endurance post-supplementation
Core muscle endurance (trunk flexor, trunk lateral right, trunk lateral left, and trunk extensors) will be assessed through the McGill's torso muscular endurance test battery.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Plasma glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triacylglycerols pre-supplementation
Plasma glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triacylglycerols (all in mg/dL) will be measured by chemiluminescence in an automated analyzer.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Plasma glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triacylglycerols post-supplementation
Plasma glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triacylglycerols (all in mg/dL) will be measured by chemiluminescence in an automated analyzer.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Plasma amino acid profile pre-supplementation
Plasma amino acid profile (that is, the concentration of each individual amino acid) will be determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Plasma amino acid profile post-supplementation
Plasma amino acid profile (that is, the concentration of each individual amino acid) will be determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Full blood count pre-supplementation
Full blood count will be performed by flow cytometry
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Full blood count post-supplementation
Full blood count will be performed by flow cytometry
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Plasma enzymes pre-supplementation
Creatine kinase and γ-glutamyltransferase (both in U/L) will be measured by chemiluminescence in an automated analyzer
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Plasma enzymes post-supplementation
Creatine kinase and γ-glutamyltransferase (both in U/L) will be measured by chemiluminescence in an automated analyzer
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Cortisol pre-supplementation
Plasma Cortisol (μg/dL) will be measured by immunoluminescence in an automated analyzer.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Cortisol post-supplementation
Plasma Cortisol (μg/dL) will be measured by immunoluminescence in an automated analyzer.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Progesterone and testosterone pre-supplementation
Plasma progesterone and testosterone (both in ng/dL) will be measured by immunoluminescence in an automated analyzer.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Progesterone and testosterone post-supplementation
Plasma progesterone and testosterone (both in ng/dL) will be measured by immunoluminescence in an automated analyzer.
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Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Estradiol pre-supplementation
Plasma estradiol (pg/mL) will be measured by immunoluminescence in an automated analyzer.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Estradiol post-supplementation
Plasma estradiol (pg/mL) will be measured by immunoluminescence in an automated analyzer.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Plasma urea and creatinine pre-supplementation
Plasma urea and creatinine (both in mg/dL) will be measured by chemiluminescence in an automated analyzer.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Plasma urea and creatinine post-supplementation
Plasma urea and creatinine (both in mg/dL) will be measured by chemiluminescence in an automated analyzer.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Total body water %, intracellular water %, and extracellular water % pre-supplementation
Total body water, intracellular water, and extracellular water (all as % of total body weight) will be assessed by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Total body water %, intracellular water %, and extracellular water % post-supplementation
Total body water, intracellular water, and extracellular water (all as % of total body weight) will be assessed by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Total body water, intracellular water, and extracellular water pre-supplementation
Total body water, intracellular water, and extracellular water (all in Lt) will be assessed by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation.
Total body water, intracellular water, and extracellular water post-supplementation
Total body water, intracellular water, and extracellular water (all in Lt) will be assessed by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.
Body mass index (BMI) pre-supplementation
BMI will be calculated by divinding weight by height squared.
Time frame: Within one week before the beginning of supplementation
Body mass index (BMI) post-supplementation
BMI will be calculated by divinding weight by height squared.
Time frame: Within one week after the end of supplementation.