The Influence of Habitual Protein Intake on Body Composition and Muscular Strength in Career Firefighters

ABSTRACTObjective: The aim of this research was to determine the relationship among protein (PRO) intake, body composition, and muscle strength in overweight and obese firefighters. A secondary objective was to evaluate differences in body composition and muscle strength among overweight and obese firefighters with low (L; 1.0 g·kg−1) PRO intake.Methods: Relative PRO intake [r_PRO] was evaluated from 3-day dietary logs, self-reported by 43 overweight and obese male career firefighters (mean ± standard deviation; age = 37.3 ± 7.2 years; body mass index = 33.2 ± 5.0 kg·m−2; percent body fat [%BF] = 28.9 ± 4.0%). Body composition (fat mass [FM], %BF, lean mass [LM], percent LM [%LM]) and muscle strength (peak torque [PT], relative peak torque [r_PT] of the leg extensors) were measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and isokinetic dynamometry, respectively.Results: Greater r_PRO was associated with less FM, %BF, LM (r = −0.498 to −0.363) and ...