The Effects of Cricket- and Beef-derived Protein on Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations and Appetite Responses

The Effects of Dietary Protein Source on Postprandial Plasma Amino Acid Availability, Gut-derived Appetite Regulating Hormones, and Subjective Appetite Sensations in Young Males

Dietary protein plays an important role in appetite regulation. Source of ingested dietary protein may have different effects on appetite, satiety, and/or food intake in humans. Insects are a rich source of protein consumed by many people around the world; however, the capacity of insect-derived protein to regulate appetite and food intake is unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare postprandial plasma glucose, insulin, amino acid, and appetite regulatory hormone concentrations, subjective appetite sensations, and food intake following the ingestion of 25 g of cricket- and beef-derived protein in healthy young males.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Appetitive Behavior; Aminoacidemia
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Cricket-derived Protein; Dietary supplement: Beef-derived Protein

Detailed Description

With the rapid increase in the global population, the production of sufficient amounts of conventional animal-based protein to meet global dietary demands may no longer be desired nor feasible. Insects may represent an environmentally sustainable additional source of dietary protein that has the potential to help ensure global food security in the future. However, the functional characteristics of insect-derived proteins when fed to humans is unclear. Further, how insect-derived proteins compare to other animal-derived proteins (e.g. from beef) have not been explored.

The purpose of this study was to compare postprandial plasma glucose, insulin, and amino acid concentrations, gut-derived appetite regulatory hormones, subjective appetite sensations, and ad libitum energy intake following the ingestion of 25 g insect- or beef-derived protein in healthy young men. It was hypothesized that hyperaminoacidaemia would be more rapid following the ingestion of beef-derived protein compared to cricket-derived protein, although total amino acid availability would be similar between protein sources over a 300-minute postprandial period. It was further hypothesized there would be no difference between protein sources on postprandial subjective appetite sensations or subsequent ad libitum energy intake.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Quebec
    • Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2W 1S4
      • Exercise Metabolism and Nutrition Research Laboratory

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male
• Aged between 18-35 years inclusive
• Healthy, moderately active
• BMI < 30 kg/m2 and > 18.5 kg/m2
• Having given informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of any identified metabolic or intestinal disorders
• Use of tobacco products
• Adherence to a strict vegetarian or vegan diet
• Use of medications known to affect protein metabolism
• Allergy to shellfish or crustaceans
• Allergy to beef protein
• Engagement in physical exercise training more than 6 days per week

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: CROSSOVER
• Masking: QUADRUPLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Cricket-derived protein beverage; Ingestion of a cricket-derived protein beverage	Dietary supplement: Cricket-derived Protein; Beverage containing 25 g cricket-derived protein
EXPERIMENTAL: Beef-derived protein beverage; Ingestion of a beef-derived protein beverage	Dietary supplement: Beef-derived Protein; Beverage containing 25 g beef-derived protein

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Plasma leucine concentration	umol/L	0-5 hours in the post-prandial period
Subjective appetite sensations (hunger, fullness, desire to eat, prospective food consumption)	mm (visual analogue scale)	0-5 hours in the post-prandial period

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Plasma branched-chain amino acid concentration	umol/L	0-5 hours in the post-prandial period
Plasma essential amino acid concentration	umol/L	0-5 hours in the post-prandial period
Plasma non-essential amino acid concentration	umol/L	0-5 hours in the post-prandial period
Plasma total amino acid concentration	umol/L	0-5 hours in the post-prandial period
Plasma glucose	mmol/L	0-5 hours in the post-prandial period
Plasma insulin	pmol/L	0-5 hours in the post-prandial period
Plasma GLP-1	pg/mL	0-5 hours in the post-prandial period
Plasma PYY	pg/mL	0-5 hours in the post-prandial period
Ad libitum food energy intake	kJ	assessed 5 hours after protein intake

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: McGill University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): January 28, 2019
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): April 9, 2019
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): April 9, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 15, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 20, 2021
• First Posted (ACTUAL): January 22, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): January 22, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 20, 2021
• Last Verified: January 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: appetite; amino acids; dietary protein; young men; insect protein; beef collagen
• Other Study ID Numbers: A08-M28-18B

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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