February 05, 2006

By: Holly Moran
Website: http://www.1st-in-fitness.com

Athletes believe the “Whey” to greater muscle strength is through training and protein supplements

Elizabethan England preferred it to milk; Miss Muffett enjoyed it on her tuffet before the spider showed up; now professional, collegiate, amateur, and recreational athletes combine it with creatine to supplement resistance training, with the expectation of improving gains in strength and muscle mass. The “it,” of course, is whey.

Whey is a naturally occurring dairy protein found in bovine milk. Whey isolate, the highest quality form of whey that is extracted and purified during the cheese making process is shown in research to possess some extraordinary nutritional properties. In 2001 creatine supplement consumption in the US alone exceeded more than 2.5 thousand metric tons.

Researchers at Victoria University in Australia have previously shown that supplementation with creatine or a 100% whey isolate formulation significantly (P<0.05) increased levels of muscle force and mitochondrial energy production in rats as well producing significantly better (P<0.05) improvements in strength and body composition in bodybuilders during resistance training.

Now, these scientists lead by Prof. Mick Carey and Dr Alan Hayes at the Centre for Rehabilitation, Exercise and Sport Science have produced a study that shows supplementation with a100% whey isolate formulation and creatine produced greater muscle fiber growth increases that transferred into significant increases in functional strength.

Author Notes:

Holly Moran contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.1st-in-fitness.com.  A source of information and helpful tips on various types of fitness equipment.