How much protein a surplus actually needs
Reviews of protein intake for resistance-trained people generally place the useful range around 1.6 to 2.2 g per kg of bodyweight per day for maximizing muscle protein synthesis. In an energy surplus the lower end of that band is often sufficient, because abundant calories and stored energy spare protein from being used for fuel and support recovery.
Pushing intake far above this range has not been shown to add muscle in most studies. The extra protein is largely oxidized or used as energy, so very high targets mainly add cost and crowd out other macronutrients.
Per-meal leucine and distribution
During gain phases the distribution of protein across the day matters because each feeding triggers a burst of muscle protein synthesis only when enough of the amino acid leucine is present to cross an activation threshold. Spreading intake across roughly three to five meals, each with a solid dose of high-quality protein, tends to keep synthesis elevated more consistently than one or two large servings.
These are population averages from controlled studies; needs shift with age, training status, and kidney health. This is general educational information, not medical advice. Anyone with kidney disease or another relevant condition should consult a qualified professional before raising protein intake.