Determination of In-vivo Plasma AA Appearance From Plant Protein Fibre Products

Innovative plAnt Protein Fibre and Physical Activity Solutions to Address Poor appEtite and prevenT undernutrITion in oldEr Adults (APPETITE): Determination of In-vivo Plasma AA Appearance From Plant Protein Fibre Products

This study aims to assess the digestibility and efficacy of the study groups previously developed innovative plant-based protein and fibre products.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Aging; Undernutrition; Appetite Loss; Age-Related Sarcopenia
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Net peripheral AA appearance following ingestion of 3 selected PPF products compared to whey

Detailed Description

Older people are at high risk of undernutrition, which leads to serious adverse health outcomes, but effective preventive strategies are lacking. Effective, new strategies should focus on the etiology of undernutrition and directly address potential causes and mechanisms underpinning undernutrition.

Reduced food intake and restricted dietary diversity are direct consequences of poor appetite. Recent studies have shown, that older persons with a poor appetite demonstrate lower intake of protein and dietary fibre, and of several nutrient-rich food groups (e.g. meat, fish, wholegrains, vegetables), after adjustment for energy intake and other potential confounders, but a higher consumption of food groups low in micronutrients (e.g. fats, oils, sweets, and sodas), compared to those with good appetite.

Enhancing dietary protein and fibre intake in older Europeans is a key objective because intake of both nutrients is sub- optimal, not only in those with poor appetite. Adequate protein intake prevents excessive decline in muscle mass and function (sarcopenia), a widespread health-issue in older persons, intensified by undernutrition. Adequate dietary fibre intake prevents constipation and impedes the development of many chronic diseases prevalent in older people. Thus, targeting adequate protein and fibre intake may be particularly beneficial in this vulnerable population.

A preparatory short-term study will be performed to assess in 10 healthy older adults the net peripheral Amino Acid (AA) appearance following ingestion of 3 selected Plant-based Proteins and Fibre (PPF) products previously developed by the wider study collaborators, compared to the reference of 30 g whey protein. Plasma concentrations of AA from arterialised blood will be measured by ion exchange chromatography in blood samples (1 drawn before and 6 during 3 hours postprandial). This step will allow the research group to compare in-vitro (previous work) and in-vivo digestibility of several PPF mixtures and identify the product with both optimal amino acid composition and sensory properties as well as optimal post-prandial plasma amino acid profile to be used in further studies.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 9
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Ireland
  • Leinster
    • Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
      • University College Dublin
• Italy
  • Padova, Italy, 35131
    • University of Padua Department of Biomedical Science, Neuromuscular Physiology Laboratory

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 65 years and older (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Community-dwelling, Age 65+ years, not a heavy smoker (≤10/day), BMI 18-30 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• Medical condition or medication known to impact appetite or energy intake, consumes more than 14 (female) or 21 (male) units of alcohol per week, inability to come to study centre, self-reported cognitive impairment or diagnosis of clinical depression, heavy smoker (>10/day)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Test meal incorporating the study groups innovative plant protein and fibre (variety 3) product.; The standardised test meal was prepared in a single dose using Knorr low sodium chicken stock cubes (9g = 1 stock cube), 65.64g of plant protein and fibre variety 3 (3.09g leucine), 28.6g butter, 5.12g cornflour, and 300ml water. The test meal is consumed in a single sitting in the morning following an overnight fast. Blood samples are acquired at baseline and at set intervals over the subsequent 3-hours to examine the net peripheral amino acid appearance.	Dietary supplement: Net peripheral AA appearance following ingestion of 3 selected PPF products compared to whey; The intervention will assess the effects of three difference varieties of plant-based protein and fibre supplements on net peripheral amino acid appearance in blood compared to whey protein with matched fibre content as a control arm.
Experimental: Test meal incorporating the study groups innovative plant protein and fibre (variety 5) product.; The standardised test meal was prepared in a single dose using Knorr low sodium chicken stock cubes (9g = 1 stock cube), 67.78g of plant protein and fibre variety 3 (3.09g leucine), 27.79g butter, 4.63g cornflour, and 300ml water. The test meal is consumed in a single sitting in the morning following an overnight fast. Blood samples are acquired at baseline and at set intervals over the subsequent 3-hours to examine the net peripheral amino acid appearance.	Dietary supplement: Net peripheral AA appearance following ingestion of 3 selected PPF products compared to whey; The intervention will assess the effects of three difference varieties of plant-based protein and fibre supplements on net peripheral amino acid appearance in blood compared to whey protein with matched fibre content as a control arm.
Experimental: Test meal incorporating the study groups innovative plant protein and fibre (variety 6) product.; The standardised test meal was prepared in a single dose using Knorr low sodium chicken stock cubes (9g = 1 stock cube), 57.66g of plant protein and fibre variety 3 (3.09g leucine), 31.72g butter, 6.62g cornflour, and 300ml water. The test meal is consumed in a single sitting in the morning following an overnight fast. Blood samples are acquired at baseline and at set intervals over the subsequent 3-hours to examine the net peripheral amino acid appearance.	Dietary supplement: Net peripheral AA appearance following ingestion of 3 selected PPF products compared to whey; The intervention will assess the effects of three difference varieties of plant-based protein and fibre supplements on net peripheral amino acid appearance in blood compared to whey protein with matched fibre content as a control arm.
Active Comparator: Test meal incorporating the control comparator (whey protein isolates), plus 10g of added pea fibre.; The standardised test meal was prepared in a single dose using Knorr low sodium chicken stock cubes (9g = 1 stock cube), 36.59g of unflavoured Optimum Nutrition gold standard 100% whey protein (3.09g leucine), 33.23g butter, 9.09g cornflour, and 300ml water. The test meal is consumed in a single sitting in the morning following an overnight fast. Blood samples are acquired at baseline and at set intervals over the subsequent 3-hours to examine the net peripheral amino acid appearance.	Dietary supplement: Net peripheral AA appearance following ingestion of 3 selected PPF products compared to whey; The intervention will assess the effects of three difference varieties of plant-based protein and fibre supplements on net peripheral amino acid appearance in blood compared to whey protein with matched fibre content as a control arm.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Acute change in amino acid appearance in peripheral blood following a test meal ingestion	Arterialised blood samples will be drawn from antecubital vein and centrifuged at 4˚C for 10 minutes at 4000rpm and frozen at -80˚C until analysed. Samples will be analysed using HPLC methods and expressed in μmol/L.	Blood samples will be taken at baseline, and at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, & 180 minutes following ingestion of test sample

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Acute changes in appetite and desire to eat	Changes in appetite and are assessed at set time points throughout the testing session, matched for timing of biological sample collection. This will be assessed using the validated visual analogue scale (VAS) method. The Visual Analogue Scale is a 100mm scale with anchors on each end describing extreme answers. On the left side of the scale is the extreme negative response and the right side the positive response. Participants mark the line were appropriate between both extremes.	baseline, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, & 180 minutes following ingestion of a sample meal
Sensory properties and palatability of the test meal after ingestion	Participants will rate each test meal on their perceived sensory properties and rate different aspects related to its palatability. These are important considerations when developing new products and will be assessed using the validated visual analogue scale (VAS) method. The Visual Analogue Scale is a 100mm scale with anchors on each end describing extreme answers. On the left side of the scale is the extreme negative response and the right side the positive response. Participants mark the line were appropriate between both extremes.	Immediately following test meal ingestion (single measure)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University College Dublin
• Collaborators: University of Padova; Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement; Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Helen Roche, Prof, University College Dublin; Principal Investigator: Katy Horner, Dr, University College Dublin; Principal Investigator: Dominique Dardevet, Dr, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE); Principal Investigator: Giuseppe De Vito, Prof, University of Padua Department of Biomedical Science, Neuromuscular Physiology Laboratory

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 14, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 12, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): July 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 4, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 14, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): June 15, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 26, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 23, 2022
• Last Verified: September 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Older adults; Plant protein; Gut hormones; Fibre; Amino Acid; Successful ageing
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Nutrition Disorders; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Muscular Atrophy; Atrophy; Sarcopenia; Malnutrition
• Other Study ID Numbers: APPETITE_AA3.1

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