Whey Protein Sensitivity: Prevalence And Performance In Endurance Athletes Undergoing Supplementation

Food sensitivities may lead to performance-impeding symptoms such as GI distress, fatigue, headache, joint pain, and sleep disturbances. In a non-athlete sample, our lab reported that 70% of the sample demonstrated a sensitivity to whey protein - an accessible source of protein commonly consumed and used by athletes via supplementation. PURPOSE: To identify the prevalence of food sensitivities in UIW athletes and assess the effectiveness of 4-weeks of whey versus plant-based protein supplementation on athletic performance and recovery. METHODS: Endurance athletes [N = 29, Age = 20.07 ± 1.63, Wt (kg) = 68.12 ± 8.50, Ht(cm) = 173.33 ± 10.02] were recruited and randomly assigned to four weeks of whey or plant-based supplementation. IgG-based food sensitivity test (Biotek’s 96 Panel), body composition, vertical jump, and inflammatory symptom, perceived recovery, and performance satisfaction measures were completed at baseline and after four weeks. Regression and ANOVA models with repeated measures were used to elucidate primary and secondary intervention outcomes. RESULTS: 65.5% of the sample tested positive for moderate-high whey sensitivity and 89.7% to any food with 41 unique foods found. After four weeks of supplementation, subjects receiving plant-protein revealed a significantly lower symptom score (-3 points, p = .041); for whey-protein consumers, changes from baseline were lower but not significant (-0.9 points, p = .087). No significant changes in perceived performance or performance satisfaction scales nor vertical jump outcomes were demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The athletic sample revealed a high occurrence of whey and any food sensitivity. Supplementation with plant versus whey protein may reduce frequency of inflammatory symptoms but may not affect vertical jump, or self-perception of recovery and performance satisfaction at the observed intervention length. A full diet elimination of whey may be necessary to detect effects of sensitivities on athletic performance. UIW Faculty Endowment Research Grant $7,964.84