oducts promote them in a number of ways. Just some of the supplement performance claims include that they will result in weight or muscle gain, enhance strength, increase energy, further endurance, promote recuperation, or reduce body fat. In addition, certain of the supplements' are marketed as growth hormone releasers, insulin enhancers, and testosterone boosters (2:92).
Most of the powders employed by bodybuilders for weight gain are meant to supplement a normal diet. Typically they are mixed with water, milk, juice, or some other beverage. These powders generally contain some protein component, as well as variable amounts of other ingredients. The protein may be derived from egg or milk. Additional substances found in these powders may include glucose, fructose, lecithin, vegetable oil, vitamins, minerals, and an assortment of flavoring agents (2:97).
According to various reports, 2500 to 3000 kilocalories of excess energy must be expended every week in order to achieve a muscle gain rate of approximately 1 pound per week. This energy expenditure amounts to about 400 kilocalories per day. Supplemental weight gain powders may serve as a convenient source for these calories. However, their ingestion will only result in an increased rate of weight gain among people whose diet is inadequate (2:97). In fact, there is no proof that the ingestion of weight gain powders represents any improvement over merely increasing food intake.
Many believe that increasing dietary protein intake, however, will enhance muscle development. Katch and colleagues (1980), for example, found that 60% of bodybuilders consumed some type of protein supplement. Moreover, certain weight gain powders consist almost entirely of protein. The actual amount of dietary protein that will result in optimal muscle synthesis during weight training has been a subject of debate for many years. At present, the current protein recommended daily allowan...