Milk Takes Female Athletes From Strength To Strength

PRESS RELEASE

Athletes are turning more to milk as a highly effective drink following an increase in the number of research studies revealing its sporting potential.

Until now most research on the benefit of milk to athletes was conducted among men. However, a recent study by researchers at McMasters University in Canada has shown that women too can reap the potential benefits of milk in their exercise and training regimes as much as their male counterparts.  

The new study investigated whether women consuming skimmed milk versus a carbohydrate drink such as readily available sports drinks with an equal number of calories would gain lean muscle mass and lose fat mass after resistance exercise.

 
The young women drank either fat-free skimmed milk or a carbohydrate drink immediately after exercise and then an hour later.  They exercised five days a week for 12 weeks and changes in their body composition were measured.

 
The women consuming the carbohydrate drink gained weight post-training and lean muscle mass increased in both those drinking milk and carbohydrate but with a greater gain in those drinking milk. Fat mass was decreased after training in the milk drinkers only.

 
The researchers concluded that after 12 weeks women consuming milk as opposed to carbohydrate in the early post-exercise period following resistance training gained lean muscle and strength as well as losing fat. The results of the study are similar to those in men, underlining the fact that milk is an effective drink to support favourable body composition changes in women with resistance training.
The Dairy Council welcomed the research saying “It’s a priority for us to get across the importance of physical activity and how milk can be a useful part of training and sporting activities. This study highlights the nutritional benefits of milk for athletes, a product that is readily available, natural, high quality and inexpensive.”
 

Judith Bryans Director of The Dairy Council said: “This study is very positive for young female athletes trying to enhance their performance.  Many studies regarding sports nutrition are conducted in men and this shows how the same benefits of consuming milk can be applied to women.”

References

Josse  A et al. Body Composition and Strength Changes in Women with Milk and Resistance Exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181c854f6
Aubertin-Leheudre M and Adlercreutz H. Relationship between animal protein intake and muscle mass indexin healthy women. BJN (2009), 102, 1803–1810