Within-day protein distribution does not influence body composition responses during weight loss in resistance-training adults who are overweight [Obesity and eating disorders]

Background: Emerging research suggests that redistributing total protein intake from 1 high-protein meal/d to multiple moderately high-protein meals improves 24-h muscle protein synthesis. Over time, this may promote positive changes in body composition.

Objective: We sought to assess the effects of within-day protein intake distribution on changes in body composition during dietary energy restriction and resistance training.

Design: In a randomized parallel-design study, 41 men and women [mean ± SEM age: 35 ± 2 y; body mass index (in kg/m²): 31.5 ± 0.5] consumed an energy-restricted diet (750 kcal/d below the requirement) for 16 wk while performing resistance training 3 d/wk. Subjects consumed 90 g protein/d (1.0 ± 0.03 g · kg^–1 · d^–1, 125% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance, at intervention week 1) in either a skewed (10 g at breakfast, 20 g at lunch, and 60 g at dinner; n = 20) or even (30 g each at breakfast, lunch, and dinner; n = 21) distribution pattern. Body composition was measured pre- and postintervention.

Results: Over time, whole-body mass (least-squares mean ± SE: –7.9 ± 0.6 kg), whole-body lean mass (–1.0 ± 0.2 kg), whole-body fat mass (–6.9 ± 0.5 kg), appendicular lean mass (–0.7 ± 0.1 kg), and appendicular fat mass (–2.6 ± 0.2 kg) each decreased. The midthigh muscle area (0 ± 1 cm²) did not change over time, whereas the midcalf muscle area decreased (–3 ± 1 cm²). Within-day protein distribution did not differentially affect these body-composition responses.

Conclusion: The effectiveness of dietary energy restriction combined with resistance training to improve body composition is not influenced by the within-day distribution of protein when adequate total protein is consumed. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02066948.

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