The Impact of a Whole-food Animal-based Versus Plant-based Protein Rich Meal on Muscle Protein Synthesis

NCT05151887 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: METC 21-006
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 17
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Rationale: Food intake stimulates muscle protein synthesis rates. The magnitude of the anabolic response to feeding forms a key factor in regulating muscle mass maintenance. Ingestion of animal-derived proteins generally leads to a greater stimulation of muscle protein synthesis when compared to the ingestion of plant-derived proteins. What is often neglected is that the anabolic properties of protein isolates do not necessarily reflect the anabolic response to the ingestion of the whole-foods from which those are derived. This discrepancy is due to the presence or absence of other components normally found within whole-food matrices, which influence protein digestion and amino acid absorption from animal based and plant based protein sources. A rapid and robust post-prandial release of food-derived amino acids is of particular relevance for older individuals, who typically show a blunted muscle protein synthetic response to feeding Objective: To compare the post-prandial muscle protein synthetic response following ingestion of a whole-food meal (560 kilo calorie (kCal); \~36 g protein total, \~0.45 g/kg body weight) containing \~100 g lean ground beef (\~30 g protein) versus the ingestion of an isonitrogenous, isocaloric whole-food meal containing only plant-based protein sources (561 kCal; \~36 g protein total) in vivo in healthy, older men and women. Study design: randomized, counter-balanced, cross-over design, researchers and participants are not blinded, analysts are blinded. Study population: 16 healthy older (65-85 y) men and women (1:1 ratio of men:women) Intervention: Participants will undergo 2 test days. On one test day participants will consume a whole-food meal containing meat as the primary source of protein (\~36 g, \~0.45 g/kg body weight). On the other day, participants will consume a whole-food meal containing only plant-based foods as the source of protein (\~36 g or \~0.45 g/kg body weight). In addition, a continuous intravenous tracer infusion will be applied, and blood an muscle samples will be collected in order to assess the muscle protein synthetic response. Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary endpoint will be mixed muscle protein synthesis rates over the full 6h post-prandial period following meal ingestion.

Conditions

Muscle Protein Synthesis; Sarcopenia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Muscle protein synthesis rates

  Post-prandial muscle protein synthesis rates Meat meal vs Plant meal

  One integrative value over the 6 hour post-prandial period

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Muscle protein synthesis rates

  -3-0 hour, 0-3 hour, and 3-6 hour

• Plasma amino acid concentrations

  6 hour post-prandial period

• Plasma glucose concentrations

  6 hour post-prandial period

• Plasma insulin concentrations

  6 hour post-prandial period

Study Arms (2)

Meat meal

EXPERIMENTAL

Minced beef, potato, string beans, apple sauce, and herb butter

Other: Muscle protein synthesis

Plant meal

EXPERIMENTAL

Quinoa, soy beans, chickpeas, broad beans, and soy sauce

Other: Muscle protein synthesis

Interventions

Muscle protein synthesis OTHER

The meals contain a total of 0.45 g protein/kg body mass (36 g protein for an 80 kg person). To account for differences in body mass, the investigators will scale the meal content to ensure 0.45 g/kg body mass for different body mass ranges (i.e., 65-75 kg, 75-85 kg, etc.). As such, carbohydrate, fat, and total energy content of the meals will also be scaled to body mass. The test meals are composed out of regular whole food items which will be purchased from local shops. The muscle protein synthetic response following meal ingestion will be assessed by the use of stable isotope tracer methodology

Meat meal; Plant meal

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years - 85 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 65-85 years
• Body mass index 18.5 - 30 kg/m2
• Healthy
• Having given informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Allergy for one of the food items used
• \>5% weight change in the previous 6 months
• Participating in a structured (progressive) exercise program
• Smoking
• Diagnosed musculoskeletal disorders
• Diagnosed metabolic disorders (e.g. diabetes)
• Use of any medications known to affect protein metabolism (i.e. corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories).
• Chronic use of gastric acid suppressing medication
• Chronic use of anti-coagulants
• Diagnosed GI tract disorders or diseases
• Blood donation in the past 2 months
• Strict vegetarian diet

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Maastricht University Medical Center: lead
• National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff: collaborator
• Vion Food Group: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Maastricht University Medical Center+

Maastricht, Limburg, 6229ER, Netherlands

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Pinckaers PJ, Domic J, Petrick HL, Holwerda AM, Trommelen J, Hendriks FK, Houben LH, Goessens JP, van Kranenburg JM, Senden JM, de Groot LC, Verdijk LB, Snijders T, van Loon LJ. Higher Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates Following Ingestion of an Omnivorous Meal Compared with an Isocaloric and Isonitrogenous Vegan Meal in Healthy, Older Adults. J Nutr. 2024 Jul;154(7):2120-2132. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.11.004. Epub 2023 Nov 15.

  PMID: 37972895 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sarcopenia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Atrophy; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Atrophy; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Luc van Loon, PhD

  Maastricht University Medical Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: In this trial, neither the participants, nor the researchers who perform the trial days will be blinded to the intervention allocation. However, the researchers performing the sample analysis are blinded to intervention allocation and are not involved in the research study during the trial days.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: The present study utilizes a randomized, counter-balanced, cross-over design in healthy older male and female participants. In total, 16 healthy older men and women (1:1 ratio of men:women) will participate in the study (20 including potential drop-out). Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive the meal including meat or exclusively plant based foods during the Test Day 1. During Test Day 2, participants will receive the other meal.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 15, 2021
• First Posted: December 9, 2021
• Study Start: June 28, 2021
• Primary Completion: April 25, 2022
• Study Completion: April 25, 2022
• Last Updated: May 31, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

NL (1)