Eating protein after working out only increases the building of connective tissue in muscles for about 4 hours - after that, the building rate goes back to normal.
Scientific Claim
The ingestion of protein after resistance exercise does not significantly affect muscle connective tissue protein synthesis rates beyond the first 4 hours in healthy young men.
Original Statement
“We observed higher muscle connective protein synthesis rates following ingestion of 25 and 100 g protein throughout the initial 4-h postprandial period (Figure 4K). In addition, muscle connective protein synthesis rates were also higher following ingestion of 100 g protein when compared to the placebo condition over the entire 12-h postprandial period, with intermediate values following ingestion of 25 g protein.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
The study directly measured muscle connective tissue protein synthesis rates and found specific patterns of change. The causal language is appropriate for this study design.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
The anabolic response to protein ingestion during recovery from exercise has no upper limit in magnitude and duration in vivo in humans