Role of Dietary Protein Intake in Elderly Adults

Role of Dietary Protein Intake on Whole Body Protein Balance in Elderly Adults

The investigators examined the effects of dietary protein intake in a mixed meal at two levels of protein amount on whole body protein metabolisms in older adults.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Protein Overload
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Recommended protein intake; Other: Elevated protein intake

Detailed Description

The investigators determined the total anabolic response to an amount of protein intake commonly eaten with dinner (70g) as compared with the amount required to maximally stimulate muscle protein synthesis (35g). Men and women, ages > 60 years will be studied under two levels of protein intake in mixed meals in random order (35g or 70g protein in isocaloric mixed meals). For two days prior to each stable isotope tracer study, subjects' dietary intake of calories and protein will be stabilized by providing subjects their entire diets. On the third day, a 8-hr metabolic study will be conducted in the UAMS Reynolds Institute on Aging (IOA) to determine the total anabolic response to the particular amount of beef intake, which will be repeated with the other amount of protein in mixed meal after a minimum 7-day washout interval. The investigators measured whole body protein kinetics, muscle fractional synthetic rate, and plasma amino acid profile.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 8
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 60 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women, ages > 60 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of diabetes
• History of malignancy in the 6 months prior to enrollment
• History of gastrointestinal bypass surgery (Lapband, etc)
• History of a chronic inflammatory condition or disease (Lupus, HIV/AIDS, etc)
• Pregnant females
• Subjects who do not or will not eat animal proteins
• Subjects who cannot refrain from consuming protein or amino acid supplements during their participation in this study
• Subjects who report regular resistance exercise (more than once per week)
• Hemoglobin less than 9.5 mg/dL at the screening visit
• Platelets less than 150,000 at the screening visit
• Subjects who are not willing or able to suspend aspirin for several days prior to their muscle biopsies
• Subjects who have been prescribed a blood-thinning medication (Coumadin, lovenox, heparin, Plavix, etc.)
• Concomitant use of corticosteroids (ingestion, injection or transdermal)
• 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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Recommended protein intake; Subjects consumed a mixed meal with a macronutrient distribution of 13% protein, 54% carbohydrate, and 33% fat.	Other: Recommended protein intake; Recommended protein intake in a mixed meal contained 13% protein, 54% carbohydrate, and 33% fat.
Experimental: Elevated protein intake; Subjects consumed a mixed meal with a macronutrient distribution of 26% protein, 44% carbohydrate, and 30% fat.	Other: Elevated protein intake; Increased protein intake in a mixed meal contained 26% protein, 44% carbohydrate, and 30% fat.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in whole body anabolism	Whole body net protein balance in gram protein	Change before and after a mixed meal intake for approximately 8 hours
Changes in skeletal muscle synthetic rate	Skeletal muscle fractional synthetic rate in % synthesis	Change before and after a mixed meal intake for approximately 8 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Arkansas

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): September 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 26, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 3, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): December 5, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 26, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 25, 2023
• Last Verified: December 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 204291

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No