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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT04232254

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

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Meal Frequency Behavior Behavior, Animal Dietary Habits Feeding Behavior Muscle Protein Synthesis

Age range

20 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Freer Hall

Urbana, Illinois, 61801, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

Animal-based Protein Foods

Behavioral

Participants will consume animal-based protein foods.

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.

Plant-based Protein Foods

Behavioral

Participants will consume plant-based protein foods.

Balanced Protein Distribution

Behavioral

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

Primary outcomes

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

    Time frame: Day 1 - Day 9

    Rate of building new protein in skeletal muscle contractile protein

Secondary outcomes

  1. Valence (Pleasantness or Unpleasantness)

    Time frame: 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

    Measurement of feelings of un/pleasantness via survey responses to a measure of valence (Feeling Scale)

  2. Arousal (Alertness)

    Time frame: 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

    Measurement of feelings of alertness to via survey responses to a measure of arousal (Felt Arousal Scale)

  3. Arousal (Alertness)

    Time frame: 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

    Measurement of feelings of alertness to via survey responses to a measure of arousal (Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Other

Collaborators

  • National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jan 18, 2020
Registry last updated
Aug 17, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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