Role of the Protein Matrix in the Anabolic Response to a Ground Beef Patty as Opposed to the Impossible (Vegi-) Burger

Protein Metabolism Clinical Trial

Official title:

Role of the Protein Matrix in the Anabolic Response to a Ground Beef Patty as Opposed to the Impossible (Vegi-) Burger

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05197140
• Other study ID #: 273554
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: May 1, 2022
• Est. completion date: November 3, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: March 2023
• Source: University of Arkansas
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Several of the investigator's recent studies have shown that all dietary proteins are not equal when it comes to making proteins in human bodies. Generally, foods made from animal muscle tissue are much more efficient at making new proteins in the body that those from plant sources. This study will measure the amount of protein growth in participants after consuming either one beef patty, one vegi-burger, or two vegi-burgers. By using stable isotope infusions and collecting blood and leg muscle samples, the investigator's lab can determine the rate of muscle metabolism that happens after a participant eats a protein-containing food. The investigator wants to determine if the vegi-burger is as efficient as the beef patty at creating proteins in a participants. The investigator will measure this metabolism over a 10-hour period, with the food being eaten at the 4 hour mark. The investigator plans to perform this procedure on up to 8 participants per food option (24 total).

Description:

According to the USDA Economic Research Service Food Availability Data, beef consumption has been on a general decline for the past 40 years, with current per capita consumption approximately 35% lower in 2020 than in 1980. Some of this decline over the past few years can be attributed to politically motivated claims that carbon emissions from cattle represent a major threat to the global environment. However, the major reason for declining beef consumption is the widely promulgated claim that beef is unhealthy. The hamburger in particular has become a poster child for the notion that beef consumption is responsible for the increasing occurrence of obesity in the United States. The trend of decreasing beef consumption due to perceived health concerns, particularly obesity and associated health problems, has led major fast-food chains such as Burger King and McDonalds, to offer vegetarian burgers as healthy alternatives to the traditional beef burger. However, examination of the components of the macronutrient matrix of a typical vegetarian burger gives reason to question the health benefits as compared to a traditional beef patty-hamburger.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 33
• Est. completion date: November 3, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: November 3, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 40 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages 18 - 40 yrs.
• Body Mass Index of 20-32 inclusive

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unwilling to eat animal proteins
• History of diabetes that requires medication for control of blood glucose
• History of malignancy or chemo/radiation therapy in the 6 months prior to enrollment
• History of gastrointestinal bypass/reduction surgery (Lapband, gastric sleeve, etc.)
• Pregnant females
• Hemoglobin less than 12 g/dL at screening
• Platelets less than 150,000 at screening
• Subjects who cannot refrain from using protein or amino acid supplements for 7 days prior to Visit 3
• Concomitant use of oral or injectable corticosteroids
• Concomitant use of testosterone, IGF-1, or similar anabolic agent
• Any other disease or condition that would place the subject at increased risk of harm if they were to participate, at the discretion of the study physician

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Protein Metabolism

Intervention

Other:
• food: cooked 85% lean ground beef
see arm description
• food: Impossible Burger (R)
see arm description

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	UAMS Center on Aging	Little Rock	Arkansas

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Arkansas

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Plasma amino acid concentrations (area under the curve after consumption of intervention/s)		6 hours after consumption of intervention