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Study type: Randomized controlled trialConfidence: Moderate

Magnitude of Energy Surplus and Body Composition in Elite Athletes: An RCT

Garthe I, Raastad T, Refsnes PE, Sundgot-Borgen J

Year2013
Sample sizen=39
JournalEuropean Journal of Sport Science
AuthorsGarthe I, Raastad T, Refsnes PE, Sundgot-Borgen J

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Summary

Summary

In 39 elite athletes (mean age 19) randomized to a planned nutritional counseling group (~3585 kcal) or an ad libitum group (2964 kcal) over 8–12 weeks, gains in lean body mass did not differ between groups, while a larger surplus produced a larger increase in fat mass.

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DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2011.643923

Key Findings

Key findings

  • 1

    Gains in lean body mass (LBM) did not differ significantly between the planned and ad libitum groups

  • 2

    Fat mass increased +15±4% in the planned group vs +3±3% in the ad libitum group, i.e., more with a larger surplus

  • 3

    Body mass increased +3.9% in the planned group vs +1.5% in the ad libitum group; both groups did their sport plus 4 resistance sessions/week

  • 4

    n=39 elite athletes, so generalization to general populations warrants caution (moderate confidence)

Related Research

Related research

Randomized controlled trial

High-Protein Overfeeding and Body Composition in Trained Individuals: An 8-Week RCT

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2014

In 30 resistance-trained individuals (mean age 24), comparing a high-protein group (4.4 g/kg/day, 307 g/day) with a control group (1.8 g/kg, 138 g/day) over 8 weeks, there were no significant within- or between-group changes in body mass, fat mass, lean mass, or body fat percentage; the surplus of protein calories did not increase fat.

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