REVIEW ON BENEFITS OF PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS FOR ATHLETES

Ishara M.D.P* and Wimalasiri Y.S.G.

ABSTRACT

As the competitiveness is increasing in the field of sports, the popularity of the protein Supplements has increased in the market. The role of Protein for Athletes are, helping to meet the threshold of their physical activity, increase muscle mass, reduce excessive fat level and improve performances. Thus the objective of this study was to review on benefits of protein supplements for athletes. The data were collected from review articles through Google scholar using dietary protein and protein supplements as key words and additional articles were retrieved from reference lists found in these papers. Dietary proteins which are natural and supply other minerals, water and fibers for athletes. In high protein diets, more undigested protein derived ends up in the large intestine and then more bacterial amino acid takes place in the colon. The colonic fermentation of these amino acids may result in end products having systemic negative and positive and metabolic effects. When athletes find it inconvenient to consume dietary protein sources then portable protein sources, particularly protein supplements, offer an alternative. Artificial sweeteners and sugar substances in these protein supplements may induce adverse effects during long term consumption and if protein supplements used without any appropriate guidance, would affect health. Considering the positive and negative effects of both dietary protein and protein supplements, acquiring protein requirements via dietary proteins would be more beneficial and using the protein supplements as an occasional resource under the supervision as an alternative when they are in an inconvenient moment to get dietary proteins, will be effective.

Keywords: Athletes, Dietary protein, Protein supplements.