Protein supplements and aggressiveness???

[fnominl]

Hi all,

Question: My boyfriend is a personal fitness trainer. He takes these protein drinks that he mixes (powder form) that come in these big canisters and cost about $145.00 a canister. I don't know specifically what kind but...

He is frequently short fused and sometimes has strong reactions to things that shouldn't warrant such a response. I mentioned this to my girlfriend who asked me did he take protein supplement and I said yes. She seems to think, from her experience with her ex husband who was a body builder, that there is a connection. She claims that it is common knowledge body builders have reactions from this stuff.

I know nothing of this world and no one else in it to ask. I know he mentioned that he recently changed product, something out thats new but i have no idea how long (years) that he's been taking it. I do know that he complains about his very high metabolism and the difficulty he has in maintaining and gaining weight. He eats like 6 times a day and there seems to be some reasoning behind what he eats when.

Any insight anyone can provide me? Is there a possibility that this stuff affects your aggression level or is he just a jerk? Help!
Tired of wallking on egg shells!

[Jasonl]

Its not the powder, maybe its the $145 price tag for a tub that's making him mad. Is he on roids? Maybe dieting to lose weight? I know when I'm trying to slim down I'm hungry a lot and it makes me a little more irritable, but nothing severe.

[WillKuenzel]

Unless he his supplementing with extra injectable things, protein itself is very unlikely to affect aggressiveness. Can you find out exactly what it is he is taking and if there is anything else besides those that you mentioned that he might be taking?

There is a method to the madness of eating 6 times a day. You'll find many people here to, whether they are trying to gain weight or lose it. You might find a person to be a bit more irritable if they are trying to lose weight but a dude should be happy if he is bulking. Sounds like either he is taking some other stuff you might not know about or is just being total jerk.

[ElPietro]

Yeah, protein won't cause any aggressiveness. Him and his friend may have been on some form of anabolics that could have had an impact on their moods, but it isn't the protein.

Perhaps he is using some form of anabolic steroid and keeping it from you?

[Ozzy Osbourne]

Protein powder will not make someone aggressive and mean. I think your girlfriend might have been thinking about steroids, which possibly could cause that kind of reaction in someone. If he's only taking regular supplements (like protein powder, etc.) and acting like that hes just being a jerk.

[aka23]

I doubt that the protein is related to his aggressiveness. Protein actually has a negative effect on testosterone levels as listed in more detail at the bottom of this post. Some protein supplements contain prohormones, which are more likely to increase aggressiveness. These types of supplements are rarely the type found in big cannisters. As others have mentioned, many types of steroids increase aggression levels. It is also very possible that the aggresion may be related to life events having nothing to do with bodybuilding, genetics, or developmental issues.

The study at http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/82/1/49 and article at http://www.thinkmuscle.com/articles/incledon/diet-01.htm give a good summary on how diet effects testosterone level. The first study found the following correlations between dietary nutrients, listed highest to lowest:

MUFA, g · 1,000 kcal1 · day1 ______ 0.79
SFA, g · 1,000 kcal1 · day1 _______ 0.77
Fat, % ________________________ 0.72*
Cholesterol, mg · 1,000 kcal1 · day1_ 0.53
PUFA, g · 1,000 kcal1 · day1 ______ 0.25
Protein/fat _____________________ 0.16
CHO/fat _______________________ 0.16
Energy, kJ ____________________ -0.18
Dietary fiber, g · 1,000 kcal1 · day1 -0.19
CHO, % _______________________ -0.30
Protein/CHO ___________________ -0.59
PUFA/SFA _____________________ -0.63
Protein, % ____________________ -0.71*

[MixmasterNash]

Maybe he's cranky because of low carbs. Seriously. The protein powder won't make him angry put deficiencies in other areas might. Give him some donuts.

[Jasonl]

Maybe he's cranky because of low carbs. Seriously. The protein powder won't make him angry put deficiencies in other areas might. Give him some donuts.
Nope, I still think its the price of the powder.:) Unless he's getting like 30lbs.

[-TIM-]

I'm guessing he hasn't always been like this. And you're linking his new found aggressiveness to something he's been doing or taking. But as every single person has responded, it's not protein that's causing it. Again some steriod users have increased aggression. But that's not even a gaurantee. The term "Roid Rage" is fairly blown out of proportion. I've never used steriods but I do know a handful of people who have and who currently use them. I've yet to see any of them be overtaken by rage or turn into a hairy, zitty beast. I worked with a lady who's husband has cycled steroids for a good amount of time and she said she's never seen a single side effect as a result of his use.

Again, it's not protein, it may be steroid use, but more likely than those is that he's a jerk. Or at least stressed out by something and it's causing him to be a butthead. :D

[PizDoff]

What they said.

"protein itself is very unlikely to affect aggressiveness"
Indeed.


I think you should go out with Tim instead...

[Nights]

Do you get angry after eating chicken, or beef? Whey protein is no different, it should not affect mood or behavior in any way or form. Like others have said, he could be on some more questionable supps, or it could just be something else in life is affecting him. Not every problem with people can be blamed on something that omes from a can.

[-TIM-]

I think you should go out with Tim instead...

Score!

[PizDoff]

I get piz doff when I eat beef, should I get checked out?

[Nights]

Is it still bleeding when you bite into it? If it is, then you might just be awakening previously hidden hunter instincts in your personality.

[defcon]

Is it still bleeding when you bite into it? If it is, then you might just be awakening previously hidden hunter instincts in your personality.

haha. Nice :D

[Dedicated]

At 145 dollars a bottle maybe it has some prohormones in there too? Do prohormones have the ability to give you the so called "roid rage"?

[the doc]

the protein is not the problem. something else is...
some of the answers here are rediculous!