As already mentioned, proteins consist of numerous amino acids, which are linked together to form a long chain according to the peptide principle. They are taken in through nutrition and are broken down in the gastrointestinal tract into smaller chains, so-called amino acids – two or amino acids – three chains. These smaller amino acid chains are transported via special transport systems into the blood and ultimately into different tissue forms in which they finally develop their effect.
In sports, proteins are of great importance because of their attributed mode of action: an increased level of amino acids in the blood is said to cause the build-up of proteins in the muscle cell, which is said to have an anabolic effect (muscle building). Besides the build-up of muscle cell proteins, i.e. the anabolic effect, it is also assumed that the protein in the cells is reduced at the same time (catabolic effect). This catabolic effect is important in the context of building muscle mass.
According to the current state of knowledge, a targeted protein intake is not regarded as a quick muscle regenerating. Nor can an increased increase in muscle mass be attributed to it. Since proteins are not yet considered to have an indirect positive effect on performance, they are called C supplements.
