Eight weeks of supplementation with the mixed protein supplement also led to improvements in hand grip strength and balance, according to findings published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
“The intake of a mixed protein diet containing both animal and plant proteins had positive effects on golf performance and muscle function, although it did not lead to an increase in muscle mass,” wrote scientists from Seoul National University, CHLabs Corporation and Chong Kun Dang Healthcare.
“Therefore, mixed proteins could offer a safe and effective approach for golf players to improve skeletal muscle health and golf performance.”
The study was co-funded by CHLabs Corporation and Chong Kun Dang Healthcare.
Scientific first
The new study is said to the first to assess the impact of a mixed protein supplementation regimen on golf performance in casual golfers.
Sixty healthy golfers with a handicap index of 20 or less were recruited to participate in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The golfers, who were between the ages of 26 and 64, were randomly assigned to receive either the mixed protein supplement providing 11.1 g of calcium casein, 5.75 g of whey protein and 5.72 g of isolated pea protein or a placebo for eight weeks.
Results showed that the mixed protein supplement was associated with a 5.2 meter increase in driver distance, while the placebo group experienced decreases in their driver distances (average decline of 5.25 meters).
Protein supplementation also led to a 1.36 m/s increase in driver ball speed, while the placebo group again experienced a 1.25 m/s decrease over the eight weeks.
Additionally, improvements in hand grip strength (2.12 kg increase), two-minute pushups (4.9 reps increase) and balance score were recorded for the mixed protein supplementation group.
On the other hand, no significant differences were observed between the groups for body composition.
Caution
The researchers noted that their study did have a couple of limitations, including that the participants were casual golfers and the results may not therefore be applicable to other groups, such as competitive and senior golfers.
“Next, no comparisons were made between 100% animal- or plant-based proteins and the mixed proteins,” they added. “Therefore, the results cannot suggest superior benefits of mixed proteins over traditional proteins. Consequently, future research should examine the effects of different types of proteins in various populations.”
Source: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
Doi: 10.1080/15502783.2024.2393368
“Effect of mixed protein supplementation on golf performance and muscle function: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study”
Authors: J-W. Seo et al.