This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition examined the effects of a chickpea protein hydrolysate (CPH) on biomarkers associated with exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation in federated male road cyclists.
The study involved 24 participants who completed a 14-day intervention, receiving either 12 g/day of chickpea protein hydrolysate (EXP) or a placebo (PLA) following their training sessions. The selected dose was based on previous studies that demonstrated antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties of the hydrolysate. Nutritional intake and training loads were monitored throughout the study.
Body composition and biochemical markers of muscle damage and inflammation were assessed before and after the intervention. Notably, no significant differences were observed in body composition, training load, or dietary intake between the groups, indicating controlled experimental conditions.
However, between-group analyses of change scores revealed significant differences for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; p = 0.04) and C-reactive protein (CRP; p = 0.02), favoring the experimental group. Specifically, LDH decreased in the EXP group while it increased slightly in the placebo group. Similarly, CRP decreased in the EXP group and increased in the PLA group. Although creatine kinase (CK) showed a favorable trend in the EXP group, the between-group comparison did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.062). Myoglobin also followed a similar downward trend.
The high baseline protein intake (>2 g/kg/day) and the short duration of the intervention may have limited changes in body composition. Nevertheless, the observed biomarker responses suggest that CPH supplementation may influence selected physiological processes associated with exercise-induced inflammation and cellular stress.
In conclusion, while 14 days of CPH supplementation did not alter body composition in trained cyclists with high habitual protein intakes, it was associated with favorable changes in selected biomarkers related to exercise-induced inflammation and cellular stress compared with placebo. Given the short intervention period and the absence of direct assessments of recovery or performance, these findings should be interpreted as short-term biochemical responses. Further studies are required to determine the physiological relevance of these changes and whether they translate into meaningful improvements in recovery, training adaptation, or athletic performance.
What this study does not show
This study does not demonstrate that chickpea protein hydrolysate supplementation leads to improved athletic performance or recovery outcomes in trained cyclists.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: established
- Clinical validity: established
- Clinical utility: partial