nutrients Article Effects of Whey and Pea Protein Supplementation on Post-Eccentric Exercise Muscle Damage: A Randomized Trial David C. Nieman 1,* , Kevin A. Zwetsloot 2, Andrew J. Simonson 1, Andrew T. Hoyle 1, Xintang Wang 3, Heather K. Nelson 4, Catherine Lefranc-Millot 5 and Laetitia Guérin-Deremaux 5 1 Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC 28608, USA;
[email protected] (A.J.S.);
[email protected] (A.T.H.) 2 Department of Health and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA;
[email protected] 3 China Academy of Sport and Health Sciences, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China;
[email protected] 4 Nutrition and Health Research & Development, Roquette, Geneva, IL 60134, USA;
[email protected] 5 Nutrition and Health Research & Development, Roquette, 62136 Lestrem, France;
[email protected] (C.L.-M.);
[email protected] (L.G.-D.) * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +1-(828)-773-0056 Received: 14 July 2020; Accepted: 7 August 2020; Published: 9 August 2020 Abstract: This randomized trial compared pea protein, whey protein, and water-only supplementation on muscle damage, inflammation, delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS), and physical fitness test performance during a 5-day period after a 90-min eccentric exercise bout in non-athletic non-obese males (n = 92, ages 18–55 years). The two protein sources (0.9 g protein/kg divided into three doses/day) were administered under double blind procedures. The eccentric exercise protocol induced significant muscle damage and soreness, and reduced bench press and 30-s Wingate performance.