Do Strength Increasing Supplements Live Up to the Claims?

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Have you ever been skeptical of the benefits of a dietary supplement seen in a local GNC or other nutrition shop? Have you ever wondered if the claims on the labels of those protein containers are actually true, or have any scientific research backing them? Given the high prices of supplements such as whey protein formulas, it is hard not to question whether the manufacturer-claimed results are worth the money. Whey protein supplements have long been regarded as the go-to supplement for an athlete who is active in resistance training, but is this necessarily true? According to a recent study by the Air Force Research Laboratory says that this statement is, indeed, one of fact.

In the study, thirty moderately fit men were randomly assigned to either a whey protein supplement or a placebo group, which was to be taken every day for eight weeks. Several preliminary tests were taken to determine the effects of the supplement after the experimental period was over. The participants completed a modified version of an Air Force fitness exam, a computerized cognition test, and an X-ray absorptiometry test to determine body composition. After eight weeks, the groups were reexamined in the aforesaid manners. The protein group showed significant increases in bench press performance, push-up performance, total mass, non-fat mass, and lean muscle mass whereas the control group remained unchanged. The scientists who conducted the study have concluded that whey protein supplements do, in fact, help with muscle growth and strength increases.

If you are looking to increase your strength and add muscle mass to your body, then perhaps you should consider supplementing your diet with whey protein. Science has shown that a daily regimen of whey protein along with a workout routine will positively affect strength and muscle mass of those who take the supplement.





Joseph Fischer, et al. "The Influence Of 8 Weeks Of Whey-Protein And Leucine

Supplementation On Physical And Cognitive Performance." International Journal Of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism 20.5 (2010): 409-417. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Feb. 2012.