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

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.

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