The indicator amino acid oxidation method offers the most contemporary technique for estimating the protein requirements of endurance athletes and is fundamental to recent advances in informing context-specific (i.e. during carbohydrate-restricted or low energy availability training) and individualised daily protein intake guidelines during training and rest days.

Based on contemporary studies utilising the indicator amino acid oxidation method, endurance athletes require a daily protein intake of 1.8 g·kg of body mass (BM)−1·day−1, which is 50% greater than sedentary adults, but should be further elevated to ~ 2.0 g·kgBM−1·day−1 during intensive training periods conducted under conditions of carbohydrate restriction and/or low energy availability and on rest days.

Preliminary evidence indicates that endurance athletes should target a per meal protein intake of ~ 0.5 g·kgBM−1 to maximally stimulate the synthesis of contractile muscle proteins during immediate post-exercise recovery.

Although awareness around the under-representation of female participants in sport nutrition research is beginning to improve, experimental studies designed to inform the protein needs of female endurance athletes remains a priority gap in the knowledge that warrants investigation.