Comparison of the Effect of Consuming Carbohydrate or Protein during Exercise on Hormonal Response

The study tries to compare the effect of carbohydrate and protein supplements intake during exercising on the hormonal response to a resistance exercise session. The subjects of the study were 20 young men who divided into two 10-member groups. During a resistance exercise session, they received drinks containing carbohydrate (CHO group) and or protein (PRO group). The blood samples were collected before and after exercise and their cortisol and insulin contents were measured. The results showed that while PRO group experienced a 17.23-unit increase in its cortisol content, it was only 0.71 units in the CHO group. Insulin response in CHO group (8.12) was significantly more than that in PRO group (4.69) (p=0.01). The results indicate that compared to protein supplements, using carbohydrate supplements during exercising enables the human body to achieve a better hormonal environment after the exercise.