Prandial Metabolic Phenotyping in Sarcopenic Older Adults Comparing Plant Based and Whey Based Protein

November 19, 2025 updated by: Marielle PKJ Engelen, PhD, Texas A&M University
The researchers overall objective is to determine whether plant and animal protein based proteins affect the anabolic responses across aging populations differently due to specific changes in the essential amino acids (EAA) and non-essential amino acids (NEAA) kinetic responses. The researchers central hypothesis is that a high EAA to NEAA ratio in a protein meal is related to higher anabolic response to the meal. The researchers also hypothesize that the type of NEAA in a protein meal also affects the anabolic capacity of the meal. The researchers rationale is that finding the amino acid composition of a meal that will maximally induce protein anabolism will guide novel nutritional approaches to prevent and treat sarcopenia, thereby reducing both overall economic burden and improving individual patient outcomes.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The study will be conducted in sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic older adults, stratified into different age categories. A sip feeding model will be used as it is a good model to establish the anabolic capacity of meals. The researchers hypothesize that plant-based protein induces less protein anabolism, due to lower production of EAA and higher production of non-essential amino acids (NEAA) as compared to dairy protein. The NEAA kinetics will be different between the plant proteins as soy protein has relatively high levels of the NEAA arginine and Pea protein of aspartate/glutamate. The researchers results will guide future nutritional advice on replacing daily protein with plant-based proteins while keeping the overall effects on metabolism comparable for both the EAA and NEAA. The study will take place at the research facility of the Center for Translational Research on Aging and Longevity (CTRAL), Texas A&M University located in the Human Clinical Research Building ) affiliated with Texas A&M University. The study involves 1 screening visit of approx. 3 hours, and 4 study days. Some study procedures (e.g., body composition, skeletal muscle function, questionnaires) may be skipped if completed within the past 3 months at CTRAL. All data will be recorded in Case Report Form and stored in the Texas A&M REDCap System. Subjects will be asked to arrive in the fasted state on all study days. Fasting prior to screening is not required. On the screening day, body weight, height, and body composition by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) will be measured. In addition, The Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and skeletal muscle function tests will be assessed at the end of each screening visit. Each study visit will begin with vital signs. Before administration of the feeding or the tracer solution, baseline blood will be collected for measurement of the natural enrichment of metabolites. After the baseline sample is collected, feeding will begin and will be followed by tracers of several compounds that may be administered by IV pulse. Participants will receive the liquid nutritional supplement as sip feeds every 20 minutes for 5 hours. The liquid nutrition supplements will contain the following proteins: (1) 45g of whey protein (dairy based), (2) 45g of soy protein (plant based), (3) 45g of pea protein (plant based), or (4) Placebo (water). Participants will have the option of adding sugar free (SF) vanilla syrup, SF caramel syrup, or SF chocolate syrup to their meals.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
100

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Texas
      • College Station, Texas, United States, 77845
        • Recruiting
        • Texas A&M University - CTRAL
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Nicolaas E Deutz, MD, PhD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Marielle P Engelen, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 50-95 years old
  • Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); COPD group only
  • Stable body-weight (±5%) for the past 3 months
  • Ability to walk, sit down, and stand up (independently or with walking assistance device)
  • Willingness to lay supine in bed for up to 6 hours
  • Willingness and ability to comply with the protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Established diagnosis and active treatment of chronic disease: Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, active malignancy, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, HIV/AIDS, Asthma (moderate to severe), Hep (A,B, or C)
  • History of untreated metabolic disease including hepatic or renal disorder
  • Presence of acute illness or metabolically unstable chronic illness
  • Hysterectomy
  • Active dependence of alcohol or drugs
  • Use of short course of oral corticosteroids within 4 weeks preceding study day
  • Current use of long-term oral corticosteroids
  • Use of protein or amino acids containing nutritional supplements within 5 days of the first study day
  • Presence of fever within the last 3 days
  • Planned elective surgery requiring 2 or more days of hospitalization during the entire study
  • (Possible) pregnancy
  • Failure to give informed consent or Investigator's uncertainty about the willingness or ability of the subject
  • Already enrolled in another clinical trial
  • Any condition according to the PI or nurse that was found during the screening visit, that would interfere with the study or safety of the patient
  • Known allergy to any of the components of the feeding (soy, pea, or whey - dairy)
  • Established daily diet of vegetarian / vegan composition
  • <23 MoCa score

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Healthy male older adults
Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water
Dietary supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%
Commercially available animal based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein)
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Placebo (Water)
Normal drinking water
Experimental: Healthy female older adults
Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water
Dietary supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%
Commercially available animal based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein)
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Placebo (Water)
Normal drinking water
Experimental: Healthy male old older adults
Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water
Dietary supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%
Commercially available animal based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein)
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Placebo (Water)
Normal drinking water
Experimental: Healthy female old older adults
Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water
Dietary supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%
Commercially available animal based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein)
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Placebo (Water)
Normal drinking water
Experimental: Sarcopenic male old older adults
Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water
Dietary supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%
Commercially available animal based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein)
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Placebo (Water)
Normal drinking water
Experimental: Sarcopenic female old older adults
Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water
Dietary supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%
Commercially available animal based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein)
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Placebo (Water)
Normal drinking water
Experimental: COPD male older adults
Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water
Dietary supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%
Commercially available animal based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein)
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Placebo (Water)
Normal drinking water
Experimental: COPD female older adults
Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water
Dietary supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%
Commercially available animal based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein)
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate
Commercially available plant based protein powders
Dietary supplement: Placebo (Water)
Normal drinking water

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Protein and amino acid synthesis capacity of plant-based and animal-based protein in older adults with or without sarcopenia measured by the use of stable isotope tracers
Time Frame: 4 weeks
A novel stable isotope technique will be used to assess simultaneously the anabolic response and whole body production rates of a variety of amino acids to intake of both dietary proteins in sarcopenic older participants. The samples will be stored in laboratory freezers and the amino acid isotope enrichments and concentrations analyzed by Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The researchers will then conduct LC-MS/MS analysis, peak integration, calculation of amino acid concentrations and whole body productions from raw data, and use the results for preparation of papers for presentation, publication, and final reports. The researchers main hypothesis is that plant-based protein induces less protein anabolism, due to lower whole body production of essential amino acids (EAA) and higher production of non-essential amino acids (NEAA) as compared to dairy protein.
4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Texas A&M University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Nicolaas Deutz, MD, PhD, Texas A&M University
  • Principal Investigator: Marielle Engelen, PhD, Texas A&M University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 26, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 3, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 4, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 19, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 94- Plant Protein Sips

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

Data may be shared upon request for up to 6 years beyond completion of the trial based on methods/proposals approved by both parties' institutional review committees. Individual participant data that underlie the results of the trial may be shared after de-identification (text, tables, figures, and appendices). Additional documents available per request include: study protocol, statistical analysis plan, and informed consent. Requests should be directed to Dr. Marielle Engelen (mpkj.engelen@ctral.org).

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings