Exercise Physiology: Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance 9th Edition by Scott Powers, Edward Howley

Exercise 5

Is the protein requirement of an athlete higher than that of a sedentary person? Should protein intake be increased? Explain.

Step 1 of 3

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of protein for an adult is 0.8 gm/kg/day. Most of the normal diets easily meet this requirement without any special protein supplements in the diet. The contribution of proteins to the total calorie/energy requirement of the body should be around 12%. Generally, athletes burn more calories compared to normal individuals and hence,. However, the proportion of calories they burn does not change.