Combining carbohydrate and protein during exercise boosts muscle growth in young men, but does not increase it more during overnight recovery

Whole-body protein synthesis increased by 19% during recovery with carbohydrate and protein co-ingestion compared to water.

• During exercise, whole-body and muscle protein synthesis rates increased by 29% and 48%, respectively, with carbohydrate and protein co-ingestion.
• Fractional synthetic rates during exercise were 0.083%/h in the carbohydrate and protein group, compared to 0.056%/h in the water group.
• Ingestion of protein with carbohydrate improved whole-body protein synthesis during and immediately after exercise.
• Mean muscle protein synthesis rates during 9 hours of overnight recovery were similar between the two groups.
• Protein and carbohydrate supplementation may stimulate muscle protein synthesis even when the body is fed.

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