Chickpea protein: altered biomarkers in cyclists, without evidence of better recovery

A short, placebo-controlled trial

The participants were licensed road cyclists. They completed a 14-day, double-blind intervention with random assignment to a chickpea protein hydrolysate or a placebo. The experimental group received 12 g per day after training sessions. This amount describes the trial, not a recommendation for use.

The researchers measured body composition and several biochemical markers before and after the intervention. Diet and training were recorded. The abstract reports no significant differences between the groups in dietary intake, training load or body composition.

Two markers show favorable changes

The comparison of changes between the groups shows a statistically significant difference for lactate dehydrogenase, or LDH, and C-reactive protein, or CRP. Both markers decreased in the supplemented group, while they increased in the placebo group, slightly in the case of LDH.

For creatine kinase, or CK, the change also favored the supplement, but the difference between the groups was not statistically significant. The abstract also mentions a downward trend in myoglobin, without establishing a comparative benefit.

The absolute magnitudes of the changes are not provided in the available excerpt. It is therefore impossible to assess their practical significance from this dossier: a statistical difference alone does not establish a useful effect for an athlete.

A biochemical signal, not an athletic gain

The key limitation is the lack of direct assessment of recovery or performance. These findings do not support the conclusion that the cyclists recovered faster, tolerated their training better or improved their performance.

The participants already had a high habitual protein intake, above 2 g/kg/day. The findings therefore concern a trained population with ample protein intake. They cannot automatically be applied to less-trained athletes, women or people consuming less protein.

The intervention involved a specific hydrolysate, not chickpeas eaten as food. The trial therefore does not demonstrate that a serving of chickpeas or another protein product would have the same effects.

What we can take away

This trial suggests a short-term effect on certain biomarkers. It does not yet provide a solid reason to buy this hydrolysate to improve recovery or performance.