Amino Acid Oxidation of Whole-Food Protein: a Dose-Response Crossover Trial in Young Adults (BURGER)

The purpose of this study is to assess the amino acid oxidation dose-response relationship of ingested whole-food protein in healthy adults. In a randomized, crossover design, 20 young, healthy adult males and females aged 18-35 years, will consume a dinner consisting of 0.32, 0.74, and 1.32 g protein･kg BM-1 (corresponding to 1, 2, and 4 minced beef patties, respectively) during 3 separate experimental trials.The main study endpoint is the amino acid oxidation of ingested protein over a 24-h period.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Protein Metabolism
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Food proteins

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

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Julia M Malowany, MSc; Phone Number: +31 43 388 1617; Email: julia.malowany@maastrichtuniversity.nl
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Jorn Trommelen, PhD; Phone Number: +31 43 388 1617; Email: jorn.trommelen@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Limburg
    • Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands, 6200 MD
      • Recruiting
      • Maastricht University Medical Centre+
      • Contact: Julia M Malowany, MSc; Phone Number: +31 43 388 1617; Email: julia.malowany@mastrichtuniversity.nl

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged between 18-35 years
• BMI between 18.5-30 kg/m2
• Healthy, recreationally active (exercise at least once per two weeks and a maximum of four days per week)
• No physical limitations (i.e., able to perform all activities associated with daily living independently)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smoking
• Vegan, vegetarian, or does not consume beef protein
• Diagnosed musculoskeletal disorders
• Use of any medications known to affect protein metabolism (i.e., corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, or prescribed acne medications)
• Chronic use of gastric acid-suppressing medication or anti-coagulants
• Unstable weight over the last three months
• Diagnosed GI tract disorders or diseases
• Blood donation in the past 2 months
• Females: pregnancy

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

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Dinner consisting of 0.32 g protein･kg BM-1	Dietary supplement: Food proteins; Dinner meal consisting of minced beef protein.
Experimental: Dinner consisting of 0.74 g protein･kg BM-1	Dietary supplement: Food proteins; Dinner meal consisting of minced beef protein.
Experimental: Dinner consisting of 1.32 g protein･kg BM-1	Dietary supplement: Food proteins; Dinner meal consisting of minced beef protein.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Amino acid oxidation of ingested protein	Amino acid oxidation; compared between interventions to determine the dose-response relationship of amino acid oxidation to ingested whole-food protein.	Over the 24 hour timeframe following protein ingestion

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Plasma amino acid response of ingested protein	Plasma amino acid response; comparison between interventions to determine the plasma amino acid response to different amounts of ingested whole-food protein.	Over the 24 hour timeframe following protein ingestion

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Maastricht University Medical Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Luc JC van Loon, PhD, Maastricht University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 25, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 20, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 23, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 20, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: METC 25-011; NL-009478 (Other Identifier: CCMO)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

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