"Effects of Supplement Timing and Resistance Exercise on Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy" Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise Nov 2006
The purpose of this study was to determine if supplement timing could create the ideal anabolic conditions for muscle growth. The study consisted of recreational bodybuilders with 1RM's of around 127kg for bench, 153kg for deadlift, and 148kg for squat. They weighed around 82kg each were "recreational bodybuilders". Supplement contained (per 100g) 40g of protein, 43g of carbohydrate, and 7g of creatine monohydrate, and <0.5g of fat. The supplement was given in doses of 1g per kg bodyweight....so for instance and 80kg athlete will receive 32 g of protein, 34.4 carbohydrate, and 5.6 g of creatine monohydrate.
Study protocol
10 weeks of training
supplement given
-either immediately before and immedialy after workout
-immediately when they wake up and before they go to bed
Findings
Supplement given immediately before and immediately after the workout had most anabolic effect
Significant benefits in
-lean body mass
-decreased body fat%
-bench press and squat performance
-type IIa and IIx fiber cross sectional area (aka...increase in fast twitch muscle size
Supplementing in the morning and before bed still had increases, but not the the same extent as the immediately before and after workout group