Defining Beef and Meal Frequency as Key Components of a Healthy Eating Pattern for Muscle Health and Wellbeing

NCT04232254 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 20243
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Adopting a healthy eating pattern is important for meeting dietary recommendations and weight management. Although less clear, it seems reasonable to assume that the eating patterns we typically follow can also affect our psychological wellbeing. As such, healthy eating patterns are often adapted to suit one's personal preference. For example, many people choose to follow a vegetarian-style eating pattern whereby meat, poultry, and seafood are excluded from the diet. However, current research suggests that vegetarian eating patterns may result in decreased synthesis of new muscle proteins when compared to the typical meat-based US-style diet. This ultimately leads to reduced muscle quality and mass which increases the risk of dependence and mobility limitations later in life. Another important factor to consider when adapting a healthy eating pattern is the frequency and distribution of meals throughout the day. In the US, protein intake is typically skewed throughout the day such that people consume more protein at dinner when compared to breakfast. This skewed distribution combined with a low meal frequency (3 meals per day) can also sacrifice the rate of muscle protein synthesis. As such, it is important to investigate the interaction between food choices, meal frequency, and protein distribution to promote muscle health and prevent development of disease and disability. In addition, it is also important to understand how these eating patterns affect enjoyment and pleasure following meals. This work will help to determine healthy eating patterns that promote muscle health and psychological wellbeing.

Conditions

Meal Frequency; Dietary Habits; Muscle Protein Synthesis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Compare fractional synthesis rate of myofibrillar proteins to different dietary protein food sources and meal frequencies

  Rate of building new protein in skeletal muscle contractile protein

  Day 1 - Day 9

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Valence (Pleasantness or Unpleasantness)

  Immediately prior to workout, immediately post workout, and immediately post meal on habituation days 2, 4, and 6 and intervention days 3, 5, and 7

• Arousal (Alertness)

  Immediately prior to workout, immediately post workout, and immediately post meal on habituation days 2, 4, and 6 and intervention days 3, 5, and 7

• Arousal (Alertness)

  Immediately prior to workout, immediately post workout, and immediately post meal on habituation days 2, 4, and 6 and intervention days 3, 5, and 7

Study Arms (4)

Animal Protein - Skewed Distribution

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Animal-based protein foods with 3 meals per day consisting of 10-, 30-, and 60% of dietary protein for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively.

Behavioral: Animal-based Protein Foods; Behavioral: Skewed Protein Distribution

Plant Protein - Skewed Distribution

EXPERIMENTAL

Plant-based protein foods with 3 meals per day consisting of 10-, 30-, and 60% of dietary protein for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively.

Behavioral: Skewed Protein Distribution; Behavioral: Plant-based Protein Foods

Animal Protein - Balanced Distribution

EXPERIMENTAL

Animal-based protein foods with 5 meals per day consisting of 20% of dietary protein per meal.

Behavioral: Animal-based Protein Foods; Behavioral: Balanced Protein Distribution

Plant Protein - Balanced Distribution

EXPERIMENTAL

Plant-based protein foods with 5 meals per day consisting of 20% of dietary protein per meal.

Behavioral: Plant-based Protein Foods; Behavioral: Balanced Protein Distribution

Interventions

Animal-based Protein Foods BEHAVIORAL

Participants will consume animal-based protein foods.

Animal Protein - Balanced Distribution; Animal Protein - Skewed Distribution

Skewed Protein Distribution BEHAVIORAL

Participants will consume 3 meals per day consisting of 10-, 30-, 60% of dietary protein for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively.

Animal Protein - Skewed Distribution; Plant Protein - Skewed Distribution

Plant-based Protein Foods BEHAVIORAL

Participants will consume plant-based protein foods.

Plant Protein - Balanced Distribution; Plant Protein - Skewed Distribution

Balanced Protein Distribution BEHAVIORAL

Participants will consume 5 meals per day consisting of 20% of dietary protein per meal.

Animal Protein - Balanced Distribution; Plant Protein - Balanced Distribution

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age 20-40
• Pre-menopausal
• Recreationally active
• Weight stable for prior 6 months
• Consumption of meat-based diet for \>6 months

You may not qualify if:

• Age outside of range (20 - 40)
• Pregnancy
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Participation in previous research using 2H2O or \[13C6\]phenylalanine
• Participation in other ongoing research that interferes with this study (e.g., conflicting diet, activity interventions, etc.)
• Any hospitalization or surgery for a metabolic, cardiovascular, or neuromusculoskeletal complication within the past year
• Allergy or hypersensitivity to local anesthetics, latex, or adhesives (bandages, medical tape, etc.)
• Excess scarring after injury
• History of excess bleeding after cut
• Chronic or frequent dizziness/fainting, and arm or leg weakness/numbness
• Arthritis
• Tumors
• Mental Illness
• Hepatorenal, cardiovascular musculoskeletal, autoimmune, or neurological disease or disorder
• Predisposition to hypertrophic scarring or keloid formation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: lead
• National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Freer Hall

Urbana, Illinois, 61801, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Askow AT, Barnes TM, Zupancic Z, Deutz MT, Paulussen KJM, McKenna CF, Salvador AF, Ulanov AV, Paluska SA, Willard JW, Petruzzello SJ, Burd NA. Impact of Vegan Diets on Resistance Exercise-Mediated Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis in Healthy Young Males and Females: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2025 Sep 1;57(9):1923-1934. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003725. Epub 2025 Apr 4.

  PMID: 40197715 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Feeding Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior, Animal; Behavior

Study Officials

• Nicholas A Burd, PhD

  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: FACTORIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 9, 2020
• First Posted: January 18, 2020
• Study Start: June 1, 2021
• Primary Completion: March 14, 2024
• Study Completion: March 14, 2024
• Last Updated: August 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)