Whey Protein Supplementation in High School Athletes

NCT05589129 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: 00145632
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 31
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The overall aim of this project is to compare protein supplementation on performance, recovery, and body composition changes in adolescent soccer players between the whey protein and the control group in response to the 10-12-week intervention.

Conditions

Body Weight Changes; Athletic Performance; Recovery; Sleep

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Estimated VO2max

  Measured via 1.5-mile run time with participants running as quickly as they can.

  Measured at baseline and post-intervention (10-12-weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Changes in Muscular Fatigue Via Repetitions to Fatigue

  Measured at baseline and post-intervention (10-12-weeks)

• Changes in Speed

  Measured at baseline and post-intervention (10-12-weeks)

• Changes in Muscular Strength

  Measured at baseline and post-intervention (10-12-weeks)

Other Outcomes (9)

• Changes in Fat Free Mass

  Measured at baseline and post-intervention (10-12-weeks)

• Changes in Fat Mass

  Measured at baseline and post-intervention (10-12-weeks)

• Sleep Efficiency

  Measured at baseline and post-intervention (10-12-weeks)

Study Arms (2)

Whey Protein Supplement

EXPERIMENTAL

Whey protein will come in powder form and will consist of 20g of protein, and 25.3g of product. We will use Optimum Nutrition Double Chocolate Whey Protein Isolate.

Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Supplement

Carbohydrate Control

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Carbohydrate control will come in powder form and will consist of 20g of carbohydrate and 21.6g of product. We will use Nesquik Chocolate Powder mix.

Dietary Supplement: Carbohydrate Placebo Control

Interventions

Whey Protein Supplement DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants assigned to the intervention will consume the supplement mixed with 6-8oz of water every day, twice per day, after soccer practice or soccer games, and one hour before bedtime.

Also known as: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey

Whey Protein Supplement

Carbohydrate Placebo Control DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants assigned to the placebo control will consume the supplement mixed with 6-8oz of water every day, twice per day, after soccer practice or soccer games, and one hour before bedtime.

Also known as: Nesquik Chocolate Powder

Carbohydrate Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 13 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• years old; male and female High school soccer players

You may not qualify if:

• non-adolescents; untreated or underlying metabolic or cardiovascular diseases; allergies to dairy, or any allergies ingredients in the study provided granola bar or bagels, such as soy, wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, milk, and sesame.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Utah: lead

Study Sites (1)

Grace Zimmerman

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Zimmerman G, Mmp de Hart N, Ou I, Miranda V, Bastian E, Drummond M, Depner C, Halliday T. The effects of whey protein supplementation on athletic performance and body composition in adolescent soccer players: a randomized controlled trial. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2026 Jan 1;51:1-9. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2025-0325.

  PMID: 41713391 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Body Weight Changes

Interventions

Whey

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Milk; Beverages; Diet, Food, and Nutrition; Physiological Phenomena; Dairy Products; Food; Food and Beverages

Limitations and Caveats

Self-reported compliance with the supplementation protocol may have influenced overall findings. Due to the location of the high school (two hours from campus) and IRB restrictions that prevented coaching or athletic training staff from directly monitoring supplement intake, adherence monitoring was conducted remotely via twice-daily text messaging.

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Grace Zimmerman
• Organization: University of Utah

gazimmerman@utah.edu

7208808077

Study Officials

• Tanya Halliday, PhD

  University of Utah

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator, PhD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 17, 2022
• First Posted: October 21, 2022
• Study Start: July 14, 2022
• Primary Completion: October 28, 2022
• Study Completion: October 28, 2022
• Last Updated: April 27, 2026
• Results First Posted: April 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)