Macro partitioning
Maintaining or increasing dietary protein intake (specifically 1.0 g/kg body weight) during periods of muscle disuse (bed rest or immobilization) attenuates muscle mass loss and improves nitrogen balance compared to standard or low-protein diets.
If you are recovering from an injury or illness that requires you to rest or immobilize a body part, do not skip protein. Even if your appetite is low, prioritize consuming about 1.0 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight daily. This helps maintain muscle mass and nitrogen balance better than just eating enough calories. If you struggle to eat enough food, consider protein supplements or essential amino acid supplements to support muscle preservation.
Evidence suggests that maintaining protein intake during a period of disuse attenuates disuse atrophy. ... it has been reported that increasing dietary protein intake from 0.6 g to 1.0 g per kilogram body weight (while maintaining total energy intake) improves whole-body nitrogen balance during a 7-day period of bed rest.
Why this rating
Based on a review of multiple human bed rest and immobilization studies (Tables 1-4), showing consistent trends in nitrogen balance and muscle mass preservation, though specific large-scale RCTs are noted as needing more work.
Source
Nutritional strategies to attenuate muscle disuse atrophy
Benjamin T. Wall et al. · Nutrition Reviews · 2013
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