Beef protein, whey protein and carbohydrate in master triathletes
What it found
In 24 male master triathletes, beef protein preserved thigh muscle thickness and raised ferritin levels, while whey and carbohydrate did not.
The authors say beef protein may help maintain muscle and iron status.
What they found
Studies in people
Body mass and muscle
Only the beef group significantly reduced body mass. Beef also showed a trend to preserve or increase thigh muscle thickness, while whey and carbohydrate groups had significantly decreased vastus medialis thickness.
Ferritin changes
The beef group had a significant increase in ferritin concentrations. Whey and carbohydrate groups showed no such change. The increase in the beef group was higher than in the whey and carbohydrate groups.
Performance and blood
No changes in performance or other blood parameters were observed for any group.
Dietary iron
The beef group significantly increased total iron and heme-iron intake. The whey and carbohydrate groups did not.
Tolerance
No negative symptoms or gastric discomfort were reported from the supplements.
What the authors conclude
“Ingesting a hydrolyzed beef protein beverage after workout or before breakfast (non training days) can be effective in preserving thigh muscle mass and in improving iron status in male master-age triathletes.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that ingesting a hydrolyzed beef protein beverage after workout or before breakfast can be effective in preserving thigh muscle mass and in improving iron status in male master-age triathletes.
- They advise that further research with larger groups is needed to confirm if dietary interventions can significantly improve iron status and its potential impact on exercise performance.
- The authors note that the lower initial ferritin levels in the beef group prevent further conclusions about the benefits of beef protein for maintaining or increasing iron stores.
How it was done
Endurance athletes are prone to iron depletion and deficiency, which can impair training and performance. The authors wanted to see if a high-quality protein with iron, like beef protein, could help recovery and prevent iron deficiency.
They randomly assigned 24 master-age male triathletes (35-60 years old) to ingest 20 g of hydrolyzed beef protein, whey protein, or carbohydrate daily for 10 weeks. All did their normal endurance training. Body composition, muscle thickness, performance, and blood markers including ferritin were measured before and after.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a small study in 24 men, so the results may not apply to women or other age groups.
- The beef group started with lower ferritin levels, so the increase might not be due to the supplement alone.
- The study cannot show whether beef protein would prevent iron deficiency or improve performance in the long term.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Greenwich, United Kingdom; Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, USA
The paper
- Title
- Effects of Supplementation with Beef or Whey Protein Versus Carbohydrate in Master Triathletes
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Naclerio F, Seijo M, Larumbe-Zabala E, et al (2017). Effects of Supplementation with Beef or Whey Protein Versus Carbohydrate in Master Triathletes. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. doi:10.1080/07315724.2017.1335248Free full textPubMed 28910233DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error