The findings of the paper form part of the updated International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) consensus statement on Sports Nutrition for Track and Field Athletes.
Explaining the findings, Dr Witard, of the Physiology, Exercise and Nutrition Research Group at Stirling, said: "Track and field athletes engage in vigorous training that place stress on physiological systems requiring nutritional support for optimal recovery. In this paper, we highlight the benefits of dietary protein intake for training adaptation, manipulating body composition and optimising performance in track and field athletes.
"We recommend that, to facilitate the remodelling of our muscle proteins -- which are turning over rapidly due to their high training volumes -- track and field athletes should aim for protein intakes of around 1.6 grams per kilogram of body mass each day if their goal is to increase muscle mass."
"Track and field athletes who are restricting energy intake -- and have the goal of minimising the loss of lean body mass -- should target protein intakes of between 1.6 and 2.4 grams per kilogram of body mass a day," Dr Witard continued.
Dr Witard added: "High-performance athletes now have access to an up-to-date consensus statement that informs best practice protein nutrition for optimising body composition."
University of Stirling. "New guidelines to athletes on protein intake." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 April 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190412101252.htm>.
University of Stirling. "New guidelines to athletes on protein intake." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190412101252.htm (accessed April 25, 2019).