Digestion and Absorption Kinetics of Beef Consumed Alone or as Part of a Mixed-Meal: a Crossover Trial in Young Adults (Meat vs Meal)

The purpose of this study is to assess the digestion and absorption kinetics of beef consumed alone or as part in healthy adults. In a randomized, crossover design, 10 young, healthy adult males and females aged 18-35 years, will consume a meal consisting of 25 g protein from minced beef alone or as part of a mixed-meal during two separate experimental trials. The main study endpoint is the exogenous rate of amino acid appearance in response to the ingested beef over a 10-h period.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Protein Metabolism
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Food proteins

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 10
• 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
      • 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

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Beef only	Dietary supplement: Food proteins; Meal consisting of 25 g protein･kg BM-1 from minced beef protein.
Experimental: Beef in mixed-meal	Dietary supplement: Food proteins; Meal consisting of 25 g protein･kg BM-1 from minced beef protein.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Digestion and absorption kinetics	The exogenous rate of amino acid appearance in response to the ingested beef (expressed as μmol/kg/min). Based on tracer plasma amino acid concentrations over time (measured with ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry).	Over the 10 hour timeframe following beef ingestion

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Whole-body protein metabolism	Whole-body protein metabolism includes measurements of protein synthesis, breakdown, oxidation, and net balance (all expressed as μmol/kg/h). Based on amino acid concentrations in plasma and breath samples over time (measured with ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry).	Over the 10 hour timeframe following beef 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 (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 15, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 22, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 22, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: METC 25-032; NL-010299 (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