ABSTRACT
Dietary protein is a critical and often overlooked component of the female athlete’s diet. An important and dynamic relationship exists between protein intake, energy balance, and the efficient use of dietary protein by the body in response to habitual exercise training. Adequate energy intake will “spare” protein for use in its myriad of important bodily functions (e.g., tissue growth, maintenance and repair, immune function, etc.); conversely, inadequate energy intake will necessitate that
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 51 Protein as a Macronutrient ....................................................................................... 52 The Concept of Protein Turnover ............................................................................. 53
Amino Acid Availability and Protein Synthesis .................................................. 53 Regulation of Protein Synthesis ..........................................................................54 Regulation of Protein Breakdown ....................................................................... 55
Characterization of Protein Turnover: Nitrogen Balance ........................................ 56 Characterization of Protein Turnover: Stable Isotope Techniques ........................... 56 Effects of Exercise on Protein Turnover .................................................................. 57
Exercise Type: Resistance versus Endurance Exercise ....................................... 57 Exercise Intensity ................................................................................................ 59 Exercise Duration ................................................................................................ 59 Sex Differences in Protein Turnover during Exercise .........................................60
Recommended Protein Intakes ................................................................................ 62 Recommendations Specific to Exercise Type ..................................................... 63 Protein Consumption during Exercise ................................................................65 Protein Consumption Post-Exercise ....................................................................65
Protein Intakes of Active, Young Women ................................................................. 67 Considerations for Protein Source ........................................................................... 67 Considerations for Vegetarian Athletes ....................................................................68 Importance of Energy Balance to Protein Utilization in and Protein Recommendations for Active Women ......................................................................69 Summary and Recommendations ............................................................................69 References ................................................................................................................ 70
