Muscles are composed out of proteins. These proteins in turn are composed out of smaller building blocks, called amino acids. By consuming a sufficient amount of dietary protein, a sufficient amount of amino acids become available to build new muscle proteins. The body's ability to build these new muscle proteins is of great importance to maintain muscle strength and function.
Previous research suggests that a meal containing proteins from meat results in a better stimulation of the body's ability to build muscle proteins, when compared to a meal containing only plant-based proteins. However, these previous studies have only been performed following the ingestion of a single meal. As a result it is currently unknown how the muscles respond to a more prolonged ingestion of a diet containing animal/meat products, in comparison to a plant-based diet. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how fast new muscle proteins are being build when consuming a diet containing animal/meat products, in comparison to a plant-based (vegan) diet.
Male or female sex
Aged between 65 and 85 y inclusive
BMI between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2 inclusive
Not willing to consume meat/animal-based products during the study period
Any food allergies (e.g. milk, gluten, etc.)
Participating currently or in the 3 months prior to the study in a structured progressive exercise program.
Smoking
Crossover
Meat diet
Other interventionParticipants will be subjected to a 10-day diet containing meat and animal products. During the interventional period participants will perform unilateral lower limb resistance exercise.
Plant diet
Other interventionParticipants will be subjected to a 10-day diet containing plant products. During the interventional period participants will perform unilateral lower limb resistance exercise.
Integrated muscle protein synthesis rate in rested leg
The main study endpoint will be the difference in muscle protein synthesis rates in the non-exercised leg, between the plant-based diet and the meat diet, expressed as FSR (%/day).
Integrated muscle protein synthesis rate in exercised leg
The difference in muscle protein synthesis rates in the exercised leg, between the plant-based diet and the meat diet, expressed as FSR (%/day).
Blood glucose
The difference in plasma glucose concentrations will be determined following the MEAT vs PLANT diet
Blood insulin
The difference in plasma, insulin, will be determined following the MEAT vs PLANT diet
Blood lipid profile
The difference in blood lipid profile will be determined following the MEAT vs PLANT diet
Participant characteristics
Participants characteristics at baseline will be reported as descriptives. This includes: Age, sex, body mass, height, BMI, Body composition as assed by DEXA scan, habitual dietary intake, habitual physical activity.
Muscle histology characteristics
Muscle histology characteristics at baseline will be reported as descriptive.
Muscle signaling proteins
The difference in muscle signaling protein between the plant-based diet and the meat diet.
Dietary intake
The dietary intake during the 2 interventional periods will be compared. Measured by dietary intake records
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Maastricht University Medical Center
Lead sponsor
National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff
Collaborator
