Comparing High-Protein and Low-Protein Multi-Ingredient Supplements for Body Composition and Performance in Elite Rugby Players

Comparison of High and Low Protein Dose With Multi-ingredient Supplementation for Body Composition and Exercise Performance in Elite Rugby Players

The purpose of this 12-week study is to compare the effects of two different post-exercise nutritional supplements on the body composition and exercise performance of elite male university rugby players. Athletes often consume very high amounts of protein to build muscle and recover, but excessive protein intake might pose potential health risks.

Study Hypothesis:

The researchers hypothesize that a multi-ingredient supplement with a lower total protein content (about 20 grams) will yield comparable or even superior improvements in body composition and physical performance compared to a standard high-dose whey protein supplement (40 grams).

Study Design:

Twenty elite male college rugby players will be randomly divided into two equal groups. One group will receive the high-dose whey protein, while the other group will receive the lower-dose multi-ingredient supplement (which includes protein, leucine, creatine, red amaranth, and elderberry). Participants will consume their assigned supplement immediately after their training sessions, four times a week for 12 weeks.

Assessments:

Before and after the 12-week intervention, the researchers will measure the participants' body composition (muscle and fat mass), maximum muscle strength, power, agility, and aerobic endurance. The overall goal is to determine if athletes can achieve optimal performance and muscle growth with a lower, more efficient protein intake strategy.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Body Composition; Athletic Performance; Protein; Whey Protein
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Whey Protein Concentrate; Dietary supplement: Single Formulated Multi-Ingredient Supplement

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taipei, Taiwan, 111036
    • Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Taipei

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Elite rugby athletes in the university team
• No consumption of performance-enhancing supplements (e.g., creatine, protein supplements, or anabolic-androgenic steroids) one month prior to the study
• No current medication or major musculoskeletal injuries

Exclusion Criteria:

• Vegetarianism
• Whey protein allergy
• Body weight fluctuation of more than 10 kg in the past three months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: High Protein Group	Dietary supplement: Whey Protein Concentrate; Participants consume 40 g of Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC-80), providing 166 kcal, 32 g of protein, 5 g of carbohydrate, and 2 g of fat per serving. It is consumed immediately after training, four times per week for 12 weeks.
Experimental: Low Protein Multi-Ingredient Group	Dietary supplement: Single Formulated Multi-Ingredient Supplement; Participants consume a single, pre-mixed formulated supplement powder containing approximately 20 g of protein (whey protein fortified with additional leucine and glycine), 30 g of carbohydrates, creatine, red amaranth extract, and elderberry extract (169 kcal). It is consumed immediately after training, four times per week for 12 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Muscle Mass	Muscle mass is assessed using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). The change is evaluated by comparing the baseline values to the post-intervention values.	Baseline and Week 12

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Taipei

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 30, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): July 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 29, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 29, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 10, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Food; Diet, Food, and Nutrition; Physiological Phenomena; Food and Beverages; Beverages; Dairy Products; Milk; Whey
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB-2023-050

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: To protect participant privacy, the sharing of individual participant data (IPD) was not included in the informed consent approved by the Institutional Review Board.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No