Defining Beef and Meal Frequency as Key Components of a Healthy Eating Pattern for Muscle Health and Wellbeing

NCT ID: NCT04232254

Last Updated: 2025-08-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-06-01
• Study Completion Date: 2024-03-14

Brief Summary

Adopting a healthy eating pattern is important for meeting dietary recommendations and weight management. Although less clear, it seems reasonable to assume that the eating patterns we typically follow can also affect our psychological wellbeing. As such, healthy eating patterns are often adapted to suit one's personal preference. For example, many people choose to follow a vegetarian-style eating pattern whereby meat, poultry, and seafood are excluded from the diet. However, current research suggests that vegetarian eating patterns may result in decreased synthesis of new muscle proteins when compared to the typical meat-based US-style diet. This ultimately leads to reduced muscle quality and mass which increases the risk of dependence and mobility limitations later in life.

Another important factor to consider when adapting a healthy eating pattern is the frequency and distribution of meals throughout the day. In the US, protein intake is typically skewed throughout the day such that people consume more protein at dinner when compared to breakfast. This skewed distribution combined with a low meal frequency (3 meals per day) can also sacrifice the rate of muscle protein synthesis. As such, it is important to investigate the interaction between food choices, meal frequency, and protein distribution to promote muscle health and prevent development of disease and disability. In addition, it is also important to understand how these eating patterns affect enjoyment and pleasure following meals. This work will help to determine healthy eating patterns that promote muscle health and psychological wellbeing.

Conditions

Meal Frequency; Dietary Habits; Muscle Protein Synthesis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: FACTORIAL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Animal Protein - Skewed Distribution

Animal-based protein foods with 3 meals per day consisting of 10-, 30-, and 60% of dietary protein for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Animal-based Protein Foods

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will consume animal-based protein foods.

Skewed Protein Distribution

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will consume 3 meals per day consisting of 10-, 30-, 60% of dietary protein for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively.

Plant Protein - Skewed Distribution

Plant-based protein foods with 3 meals per day consisting of 10-, 30-, and 60% of dietary protein for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Skewed Protein Distribution

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will consume 3 meals per day consisting of 10-, 30-, 60% of dietary protein for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively.

Plant-based Protein Foods

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will consume plant-based protein foods.

Animal Protein - Balanced Distribution

Animal-based protein foods with 5 meals per day consisting of 20% of dietary protein per meal.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Animal-based Protein Foods

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will consume animal-based protein foods.

Balanced Protein Distribution

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will consume 5 meals per day consisting of 20% of dietary protein per meal.

Plant Protein - Balanced Distribution

Plant-based protein foods with 5 meals per day consisting of 20% of dietary protein per meal.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Plant-based Protein Foods

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will consume plant-based protein foods.

Balanced Protein Distribution

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will consume 5 meals per day consisting of 20% of dietary protein per meal.

Interventions

Animal-based Protein Foods

Participants will consume animal-based protein foods.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Skewed Protein Distribution

Participants will consume 3 meals per day consisting of 10-, 30-, 60% of dietary protein for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Plant-based Protein Foods

Participants will consume plant-based protein foods.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Balanced Protein Distribution

Participants will consume 5 meals per day consisting of 20% of dietary protein per meal.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 20-40
• Pre-menopausal
• Recreationally active
• Weight stable for prior 6 months
• Consumption of meat-based diet for >6 months

Exclusion Criteria

• Age outside of range (20 - 40)
• Pregnancy
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Participation in previous research using 2H2O or [13C6]phenylalanine
• Participation in other ongoing research that interferes with this study (e.g., conflicting diet, activity interventions, etc.)
• Any hospitalization or surgery for a metabolic, cardiovascular, or neuromusculoskeletal complication within the past year
• Allergy or hypersensitivity to local anesthetics, latex, or adhesives (bandages, medical tape, etc.)
• Excess scarring after injury
• History of excess bleeding after cut
• Chronic or frequent dizziness/fainting, and arm or leg weakness/numbness
• Arthritis
• Tumors
• Mental Illness
• Hepatorenal, cardiovascular musculoskeletal, autoimmune, or neurological disease or disorder
• Predisposition to hypertrophic scarring or keloid formation
• Physical activity limitations
• Consumption of ergogenic-levels of dietary supplements that may affect muscle mass (e.g., creatine, HMB), insulin-like substances, or anabolic/catabolic pro-hormones (e.g., DHEA) within 6 weeks prior to participation
• Consumption of thyroid, androgenic, or other medications known to affect endocrine function
• Consumption of medications known to affect protein metabolism (e.g., prescription-strength corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, or acne medication)
• Unwillingness to comply with study procedures
• Weight unstable (variation >5% of bodyweight in last 6-12 months)
• Pregnancy
• Allergy to dairy product or lactose intolerance
• Current or previous tobacco use with last 6 months
• Obesity (body mass index; BMI > 30 kg m-2)
• Score of less than 14 or greater than 24 on Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire

• Minimum Eligible Age: 20 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

National Cattlemen's Beef Association

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Nicholas A Burd, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Locations

Freer Hall

Urbana, Illinois, United States

Countries

United States

References

Askow AT, Barnes TM, Zupancic Z, Deutz MT, Paulussen KJM, McKenna CF, Salvador AF, Ulanov AV, Paluska SA, Willard JW, Petruzzello SJ, Burd NA. Impact of Vegan Diets on Resistance Exercise-Mediated Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis in Healthy Young Males and Females: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2025 Sep 1;57(9):1923-1934. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003725. Epub 2025 Apr 4.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 40197715 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

20243

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id