What is the role of amino acids and the strength training athlete?
Amino acid intake and protein synthesis has long been a topic in the forefront in the setting of the strength training athlete. Resistance exercise is followed by a 48 hour period when muscle protein synthesis is elevated. Protein synthesis is necessary for an increase in muscle mass and therefore an increased dietary intake of amino acids is suggested. Some studies suggest that the daily dietary protein intake in weight-training athletes is between 1.4 and 1.8 g protein/kg bodyweight per day, or more than double the normal recommended daily intake for non-athletes. While the short term data available does not clearly confer that an increased dietary protein intake improves strength, there has been this suggestion. It is possible that longer term duration studies of strength athletes may prove an increased measured strength with increased dietary protein and amino acid supplementation. It is however clear that there is a limit on the amount of protein synthesis and therefore muscle bui
