Myth-buster
Protein supplementation improved time to exhaustion during endurance exercise in a meta-analysis — but had no significant effect on body weight, fat mass, or aerobic capacity.
This is one of the first systematic reviews on the topic — promising, but still early — so treat the endurance benefit as intriguing rather than settled.
A systematic review of 146 participants found that adding protein during endurance training helped people exercise longer before reaching exhaustion, a moderate but statistically significant effect. However, the same analysis showed no meaningful changes in body weight, fat mass, or overall aerobic fitness, suggesting the benefit is narrowly tied to delaying fatigue rather than broad performance improvements.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on Protein for Improved Time to Exhaustion — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Systematic Review
- n = 146
- 2025-08-07
- Frontiers in nutrition
This is a plain-language summary of a research finding, not medical advice. Pillser surfaces research signals to help you decide what's worth investigating — always consult a qualified professional before changing what you take.