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

Dietary Habits Clinical Trial

Official title:

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

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04232254
• Other study ID #: 20243
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 1, 2021
• Est. completion date: December 1, 2023

Study information

• Verified date: July 2022
• Source: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Contact: Andrew T Askow, MS
• Phone: 608-630-0237
• Email: askow2[@]illinois.edu
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 48
• Est. completion date: December 1, 2023
• Est. primary completion date: December 1, 2023
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 20 Years to 40 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 20-40

• Pre-menopausal

• Recreationally active

• Weight stable for prior 6 months

• Consumption of meat-based diet for >6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• 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

• Physical activity limitations

• Consumption of ergogenic-levels of dietary supplements that may affect muscle mass (e.g., creatine, HMB), insulin-like substances, or anabolic/catabolic pro-hormones (e.g., DHEA) within 6 weeks prior to participation

• Consumption of thyroid, androgenic, or other medications known to affect endocrine function

• Consumption of medications known to affect protein metabolism (e.g., prescription-strength corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, or acne medication)

• Unwillingness to comply with study procedures

• Weight unstable (variation >5% of bodyweight in last 6-12 months)

• Pregnancy

• Allergy to dairy product or lactose intolerance

• Current or previous tobacco use with last 6 months

• Obesity (body mass index; BMI > 30 kg m-2)

• Score of less than 14 or greater than 24 on Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Dietary Habits
• Meal Frequency
• Muscle Protein Synthesis

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Animal-based Protein Foods
Participants will consume animal-based protein foods.
• Skewed Protein Distribution
Participants will consume 3 meals per day consisting of 10-, 30-, 60% of dietary protein for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively.
• Plant-based Protein Foods
Participants will consume plant-based protein foods.
• Balanced Protein Distribution
Participants will consume 5 meals per day consisting of 20% of dietary protein per meal.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Freer Hall	Urbana	Illinois

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	National Cattlemen's Beef Association

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	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
Primary	Compare fractional synthesis rate of myofibrillar proteins to different dietary protein food	Rate of building new protein in skeletal muscle contractile protein	During the 3-hour post-absorptive period prior to ingestion of a mixed meal containing either plant- or animal based protein and throughout the 5-hour post-prandial period following meal ingestion
Secondary	Valence (Pleasantness or Unpleasantness)	Measurement of feelings of un/pleasantness via survey responses to a measure of valence (Feeling Scale)	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
Secondary	Arousal (Alertness)	Measurement of feelings of alertness to via survey responses to a measure of arousal (Felt Arousal Scale)	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
Secondary	Arousal (Alertness)	Measurement of feelings of alertness to via survey responses to a measure of arousal (Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List).	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
Secondary	Plasma Amino Acid Concentration	Concentration of amino acids in plasma as determined by LC/MS/MS	During the 3-hour post-absorptive period prior to ingestion of a mixed meal containing either plant- or animal based protein and throughout the 5-hour post-prandial period following meal ingestion
Secondary	Plasma Insulin Concentration	Concentration of insulin plasma as determined via commercially-available ELISA kit	During the 3-hour post-absorptive period prior to ingestion of a mixed meal containing either plant- or animal based protein and throughout the 5-hour post-prandial period following meal ingestion
Secondary	Anabolic Signaling	Phosphorylation of anabolic signaling targets as determined via Western blotting	Prior to, 2 hours, and 5 hours following ingestion of a mixed meal containing either plant- or animal based protein
Secondary	Whole-body Leucine Oxidation	Leucine oxidation rates will be assessed using the a-[13C]ketoisocaproate reciprocal pool model	During the 3-hour post-absorptive period prior to ingestion of a mixed meal containing either plant- or animal based protein and throughout the 5-hour post-prandial period following meal ingestion