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The effects of high protein intakes during energy restriction on body composition, energy metabolism and physical performance in recreational athletes

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 79, pages 544–552 (2025) Cite this article

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Abstract

Background

Athletes employ weight loss practices to lower body fat and maintain fat-free mass (FFM). High protein diets have been shown to produce greater fat loss and retention of lean mass during periods of energy restriction (ER) in sedentary individuals with obesity, but less is known about the effects of high protein diets in trained individuals during ER. Although current recommendations for protein intake in active individuals are 1.2–1.7 g/kg, it is unclear whether higher intakes are necessary to maximize FFM retention and maximize physical performance in athletes undergoing periods of ER.

Objective

Determine whether high protein intakes could maximize FFM retention and physical performance in trained individuals after a period of ER.

Methods

Twenty-one college aged athletes underwent a 6-week 25% ER + 3-day full body resistance training. Participants were randomly assigned to a low (~1.2 g/kg), moderate (~1.6 g/kg) or high (~2.2 g/kg) protein intake. Baseline and post-intervention outcomes: Dual X-ray absorptiometry, isotopic water dilution, indirect calorimetry, dietary records and strength based physical testing.

Results

Significant reductions in body mass (p = 0.047) and fat mass (p = 0.04) with simultaneous increases in FFM (p = 0.037) were noted for all groups, with no protein intake effect. Significant increases in physical performance outcomes (5RM strength) were noted for most measures (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Current protein intake recommendations of 1.2–1.7 g/kg appear sufficient for most athletes even during periods of ER to maintain FFM and physical performance.

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Fig. 1: Changes in body composition across all groups from pre- to post-intervention (n = 21).
Fig. 2: Changes in protein mass across the whole sample from pre- to post-intervention.
Fig. 3: Changes in physical performance across the whole sample size from pre- to post-intervention (n = 21).

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Data availability

The collected and analysed data sets of the current study are not publicly available. De-identified and processed data can be requested from the corresponding author for academic purposes after completing a signed data access form. Only de-identified data can be provided to protect participant privacy.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all participants for taking part in our study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Mikael F. Kanaan, Samir Nait-Yahia & Éric Doucet

Authors
  1. Mikael F. Kanaan
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  2. Samir Nait-Yahia
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  3. Éric Doucet
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Contributions

MFK and ÉD: conceptualization, methodology, data analysis, writing – original draft. MFK, ÉD, and SNY: writing - review & editing. MFK and SNY: design of exercise program. MFK: data collection and analysis. ÉD: supervision, project administration. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript and accepted responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.

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Correspondence to Éric Doucet.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The ethics committee of the University of Ottawa (H-09-21-6884) approved the study protocol. All participants provided their written consent to participate. This study conformed to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Kanaan, M.F., Nait-Yahia, S. & Doucet, É. The effects of high protein intakes during energy restriction on body composition, energy metabolism and physical performance in recreational athletes. Eur J Clin Nutr 79, 544–552 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-025-01585-2

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