TY - JOUR
T1 - α-Lactalbumin Improves Sleep and Recovery after Simulated Evening Competition in Female Athletes
AU - Miles, Kathleen H.
AU - Clark, Brad
AU - Fowler, Peter M.
AU - Gratwicke, Madeleine J.
AU - Martin, Kristy
AU - Welvaert, Marijke
AU - Miller, Joanna
AU - Pumpa, Kate L.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank the participants and placement students for their time and engagement in the study, Sarah Morris for sleep scoring, and Agropur for their in-kind provision of the α-lactalbumin. Funding for this study was provided by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association Research Scholarship. This study was also supported by the University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise and the Australian Institute of Sport.
Funding Information:
This study was also supported by the University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise and the Australian Institute of Sport. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest and that the results of the study are presented clearly, honestly, andwithout fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation. In addition, the results of the study do not constitute endorsement by the American College of Sports Medicine.
Publisher Copyright:
© Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
PY - 2021/12/1
Y1 - 2021/12/1
N2 - PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of α-lactalbumin (A-LAC) supplementation for improving sleep and performance recovery after simulated evening competition in female athletes. METHODS: Sixteen trained women (mean ± SD: age, 27 ± 7 yr; mass, 62 ± 10 kg; stature, 167 ± 8 cm) participated in this randomized double-blind three-arm crossover study. Participants completed a simulated evening competition before consuming either an A-LAC whey protein, whey protein placebo (PLA), or water control (CON) beverage. Sleep was monitored via polysomnography, and participants completed a series of physical, cognitive, and perceptual assessments before, and 14 and 24 h after simulated competition. RESULTS: Non-rapid eye movement stage 2 sleep increased after competition in A-LAC (pre, 199 ± 44 min; post, 212 ± 37 min) but decreased in CON (pre, 228 ± 43 min; post, 195 ± 40 min) and PLA (pre, 224 ± 25 min; post, 211 ± 35 min; P = 0.012). In addition, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 distance improved over time in A-LAC (baseline, 664 ± 332 m; 14 h post, 667 ± 326 m; 24 h post, 781 ± 427 m) compared with CON (baseline, 741 ± 366 m; 14 h post, 648 ± 351 m; 24 h post, 720 ± 407 m) and PLA (baseline, 763 ± 394 m; 14 h post, 636 ± 366 m; 24 h post, 720 ± 396 m; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that A-LAC supplementation may be useful for retaining some sleep characteristics after evening competition, leading to improved physical performance in female athletes.
AB - PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of α-lactalbumin (A-LAC) supplementation for improving sleep and performance recovery after simulated evening competition in female athletes. METHODS: Sixteen trained women (mean ± SD: age, 27 ± 7 yr; mass, 62 ± 10 kg; stature, 167 ± 8 cm) participated in this randomized double-blind three-arm crossover study. Participants completed a simulated evening competition before consuming either an A-LAC whey protein, whey protein placebo (PLA), or water control (CON) beverage. Sleep was monitored via polysomnography, and participants completed a series of physical, cognitive, and perceptual assessments before, and 14 and 24 h after simulated competition. RESULTS: Non-rapid eye movement stage 2 sleep increased after competition in A-LAC (pre, 199 ± 44 min; post, 212 ± 37 min) but decreased in CON (pre, 228 ± 43 min; post, 195 ± 40 min) and PLA (pre, 224 ± 25 min; post, 211 ± 35 min; P = 0.012). In addition, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 distance improved over time in A-LAC (baseline, 664 ± 332 m; 14 h post, 667 ± 326 m; 24 h post, 781 ± 427 m) compared with CON (baseline, 741 ± 366 m; 14 h post, 648 ± 351 m; 24 h post, 720 ± 407 m) and PLA (baseline, 763 ± 394 m; 14 h post, 636 ± 366 m; 24 h post, 720 ± 396 m; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that A-LAC supplementation may be useful for retaining some sleep characteristics after evening competition, leading to improved physical performance in female athletes.
KW - protein
KW - sleep quality
KW - polysomnography
KW - female athlete
KW - Sleep Quality
KW - Polysomnography
KW - Female Athlete
KW - Protein
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85121956359&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002743
DO - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002743
M3 - Article
C2 - 34649262
AN - SCOPUS:85121956359
SN - 0195-9131
VL - 53
SP - 2618
EP - 2627
JO - Medicine Science in Sports Exercise
JF - Medicine Science in Sports Exercise
IS - 12
ER -