The purpose of this 12-week study is to compare the effects of two different post-exercise nutritional supplements on the body composition and exercise performance of elite male university rugby players. Athletes often consume very high amounts of protein to build muscle and recover, but excessive protein intake might pose potential health risks.

Study Hypothesis:

The researchers hypothesize that a multi-ingredient supplement with a lower total protein content (about 20 grams) will yield comparable or even superior improvements in body composition and physical performance compared to a standard high-dose whey protein supplement (40 grams).

Study Design:

Twenty elite male college rugby players will be randomly divided into two equal groups. One group will receive the high-dose whey protein, while the other group will receive the lower-dose multi-ingredient supplement (which includes protein, leucine, creatine, red amaranth, and elderberry). Participants will consume their assigned supplement immediately after their training sessions, four times a week for 12 weeks.

Assessments:

Before and after the 12-week intervention, the researchers will measure the participants' body composition (muscle and fat mass), maximum muscle strength, power, agility, and aerobic endurance. The overall goal is to determine if athletes can achieve optimal performance and muscle growth with a lower, more efficient protein intake strategy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Elite rugby athletes in the university team
• No consumption of performance-enhancing supplements (e.g., creatine, protein supplements, or anabolic-androgenic steroids) one month prior to the study
• No current medication or major musculoskeletal injuries

Exclusion Criteria:

• Vegetarianism
• Whey protein allergy
• Body weight fluctuation of more than 10 kg in the past three months

To protect participant privacy, the sharing of individual participant data (IPD) was not included in the informed consent approved by the Institutional Review Board.