Effects of protein sources at sahur on anaerobic power and strength during Ramadan in combat sport athletes: A single blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced crossover study design.

Ramadan fasting significantly lowered Wingate peak power and mean power compared to the non-fasting control condition.

• 24 trained male combat sports athletes (mean age 27.3 ± 3.8 years, Tier 3 national level) completed four experimental conditions in a crossover design.
• Physical performance was assessed 11–13 hours post-sahur (or 3–5 hours post-lunch for control).
• The fasting + placebo condition produced significantly lower peak power and mean power than the non-fasting control.
• Both WPI and placebo fasting conditions showed significant declines relative to the non-fasting control.

Micellar casein (MC) supplementation at sahur outperformed both whey protein isolate (WPI) and placebo in preserving Wingate peak power and mean power during Ramadan fasting.

• Supplementation dose was 0.4 g/kg body weight for both WPI and MC; placebo (maltodextrin) was also administered at 0.4 g/kg.
• MC supplementation reduced fasting-induced declines in peak power and mean power, surpassing both WPI and placebo conditions.
• Despite MC's superiority over WPI and placebo, performance under MC did not fully restore to non-fasting control levels.
• WPI did not significantly differ from placebo in peak power or mean power outcomes.

Ramadan fasting significantly reduced bench press strength compared to the non-fasting control, and MC partially attenuated this decline.

• Bench press strength was significantly lower in the fasting + placebo condition compared to the non-fasting control.
• MC supplementation surpassed the placebo condition in bench press strength preservation.
• MC did not significantly outperform WPI in bench press strength.
• Bench press performance under MC still did not fully return to non-fasting control levels.

Leg press, countermovement jump (CMJ), and handgrip strength showed no significant differences across any of the four experimental conditions.

• The four conditions were: non-fasting control, fasting + placebo, fasting + WPI, and fasting + MC.
• Neither fasting nor protein supplementation significantly affected leg press strength, CMJ performance, or handgrip strength.
• This suggests that lower-body strength and grip strength may be less sensitive to 11–13 hours of fasting than anaerobic power and upper-body endurance.

The study used a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced crossover design with a standardized sahur meal across all fasting conditions.

• Each participant completed all four conditions, serving as their own control.
• The standardized sahur meal provided 6.3–7.7 kcal/kg body weight.
• Supplementation (WPI, MC, or placebo) was administered at 0.4 g/kg body weight at sahur.
• The sample consisted of 24 male combat sports athletes at the Tier 3 national level.