(P31-051-23) Effect of Soy Milk in the Body Composition in Japanese Sumo Wrestling

Objectives: Body composition and nutritional status are acknowledged as determinants of athletic health and performance. Sumo athletes tend to consume more fat and carbohydrates to gain weight. It was well known soy milk is low in cholesterol and high in protein, i.e., soy peptides are effective in increasing muscle mass. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate of the effect of consuming soy milk in place of a breakfast that is not eaten over a 3-month period on body composition in Sumo students.

Methods: Sixteen top level male Sumo wrestling player as volunteer who belong to college Sumo association in Japan (mean ± SD; age:20.0 ± 1.4; height 174.2 ± 5.5cm; weight 119.1 ± 24.5kg; BMI 39.7 ± 3.3kg/m²) participated in this study. For three months, 200 ml of commercially processed soy milk products (KIKKOMAN SOYFOODS COMPANY) was consumed every morning during three months. It was performed examination of body composition before and after Soy milk intake intervention. The body composition was measured using the impedance with multi frequency and reactance (Physion MD, Japan). After collecting the impedance data, it was calculated muscle mass, individual part of muscle mass and body water mass. This study was approved by the Committee designated by Jissen Women’s University (H2022-13).

Results: After three months of soymilk consumption, body weight a little decreased an average of 2.87Kg, muscle mass decreased an average of 0.76%, body water content increased an average of 0.28% and no change in body fat volume. There were no significant different in body composition data between before and after soy milk intake. However, the main complaint of the Sumo players was that their skin was in good condition.

Conclusions: In order to maintain muscle mass, it is important to consume an adequate amount of protein in each meal to maintain or increase muscle mass. Sumo wrestlers who consumed at least 7 g of protein each morning and performed daily resistance training did not noticeably increase their muscle mass. In this study to protein intake studies focused on soy milk as a natural food, increased intake of protein-rich foods did not increase the efficacy of muscle mass in the study participants. One of the outcome, not only dysfunctional absorptive capacity power for proteins may result from body weight less associated of not enough intaking soy milk.

Funding Sources: NO