Muscle Protein Synthetic Response to ProteinOmniVeg_DietNCT07049224
The Effectiveness of a Diet With Beef as Key Protein Component Versus a Plant-Based Diet to Support Integrated Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates in Healthy Older Individuals
A study testing Meat diet and Plant diet in people with Muscle Protein Synthetic Response to Protein, run by Maastricht University Medical Center at 1 site in Netherlands.
Trial summary
Muscles are composed out of proteins. These proteins in turn are composed out of smaller building blocks, called amino acids. By consuming a sufficient amount of dietary protein, a sufficient amount of amino acids become available to build new muscle proteins. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 to 85 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Muscle Protein Synthetic Response to Protein
- What is being tested?
- Meat diet and Plant diet
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 32 participants
- Where
- 1 siteNetherlands
- Study dates
- 9 Dec 2024to Apr 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 65 to 85 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Male or female sex
- Aged between 65 and 85 y inclusive
- BMI between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2 inclusive
Who cannot join
- Not willing to consume meat/animal-based products during the study period
- Any food allergies (e.g. milk, gluten, etc.)
- Participating currently or in the 3 months prior to the study in a structured progressive exercise program.
- Smoking
- History of cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, neurological, psychiatric, dermatologic, musculoskeletal, metabolic, endocrine, haematological, immunologic disorders, allergy, major surgery and/or laboratory assessments which might limit participation in or completion of the study protocol, interfere with the execution of the experiment, or potential influence the study outcomes (to be decided by the study team and responsible physician)
- Diagnosed with phenylketonuria (PKU)
Show all 10Show fewer
- Donated full blood 3 months prior to test day
- Use of any medications that interferes with study participation and/or outcomes (i.e. corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, gastric acid suppressing medication) as assessed by the study team and responsible medical doctor.
- Use of DOAC, vitamin-K-antagonist, or multiple anticoagulants
- Fasting blood glucose >7 mmol/L
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Netherlands1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Maastricht University Medical Centre+
Maastricht, Limburg, 6229ER
Philippe Pinckaers, PhD, +31 43 388 22 15, philippe.pinckaers@maastrichtuniversity.nl
About this study
Muscles are composed out of proteins. These proteins in turn are composed out of smaller building blocks, called amino acids. By consuming a sufficient amount of dietary protein, a sufficient amount of amino acids become available to build new muscle proteins. The body's ability to build these new muscle proteins is of great importance to maintain muscle strength and function.
Previous research suggests that a meal containing proteins from meat results in a better stimulation of the body's ability to build muscle proteins, when compared to a meal containing only plant-based proteins. However, these previous studies have only been performed following the ingestion of a single meal. As a result it is currently unknown how the muscles respond to a more prolonged ingestion of a diet containing animal/meat products, in comparison to a plant-based diet. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how fast new muscle proteins are being build when consuming a diet containing animal/meat products, in comparison to a plant-based (vegan) diet.
- Being tested
- Meat diet, Plant diet
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Meat dietOther
Also called Omnivorous diet
Participants will be subjected to a 10-day diet containing meat and animal products. During the interventional period participants will perform unilateral lower limb resistance exercise.
Plant dietOther
Also called Vegan diet
Participants will be subjected to a 10-day diet containing plant products. During the interventional period participants will perform unilateral lower limb resistance exercise.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| MEAT-PLANT | Experimental | Participants will be subjected to a 10-day diet containing meat and animal products, followed by a 10-day diet containing plant products. During the interventional period participants will perform unilateral lower limb resistance exercise. Receives: Other: Meat diet; Other: Plant diet |
| PLANT-MEAT | Experimental | Participants will be subjected to a 10-day diet containing plant products, followed by a 10-day diet containing meat and animal products. During the interventional period participants will perform unilateral lower limb resistance exercise. Receives: Other: Meat diet; Other: Plant diet |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Integrated muscle protein synthesis rate in rested leg
The main study endpoint will be the difference in muscle protein synthesis rates in the non-exercised leg, between the plant-based diet and the meat diet, expressed as FSR (%/day).
Measured: The 2 intervention periods over which FSR is determined will each last 10 days
Secondary outcomes (7)
Integrated muscle protein synthesis rate in exercised leg
The difference in muscle protein synthesis rates in the exercised leg, between the plant-based diet and the meat diet, expressed as FSR (%/day).
Measured: The 2 intervention periods over which FSR is determined will each last 10 days
Blood glucose
The difference in plasma glucose concentrations will be determined following the MEAT vs PLANT diet
Measured: The 2 intervention periods after which the outcomes are determined will each last 10 days
Blood insulin
The difference in plasma, insulin, will be determined following the MEAT vs PLANT diet
Measured: The 2 intervention periods after which the outcomes are determined will each last 10 days
Blood lipid profile
The difference in blood lipid profile will be determined following the MEAT vs PLANT diet
Measured: The 2 intervention periods after which the outcomes are determined will each last 10 days
Blood inflammatory markers
The difference in blood inflammatory markers will be determined following the MEAT vs PLANT diet
Measured: The 2 intervention periods after which the outcomes are determined will each last 10 days
Blood amino acid profile
The difference in plasma amino acid profile will be determined following the MEAT vs PLANT diet
Measured: The 2 intervention periods after which the outcomes are determined will each last 10 days
Blood pressure
The difference in blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) will be determined following the MEAT vs PLANT diet
Measured: The 2 intervention periods after which the blood pressure is determined will each last 10 days
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Jul 2025
- Study start9 Dec 2024
- Primary completionApr 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionApr 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Muscle Protein Synthetic Response to ProteinStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Maastricht University Medical CenterThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Model description
- Randomized, counter-balanced, cross-over design, researchers and participants are not blinded, analysts are blinded.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Maastricht University Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07049224
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- METC 24-025
- Other IDs
- NL87069.068.24
- Acronym
- OmniVeg_Diet
- Status last verified
- Dec 2024
- First submitted
- 19 Dec 2024
- Last updated
- 3 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effectiveness of a Diet With Beef as Key Protein Component Versus a Plant-Based Diet to Support Integrated Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates in Healthy Older Individuals
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07049224
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- OmniVeg_Diet / METC 24-025
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Maastricht University Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff
- Study start
- 9 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Apr 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 3 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Muscles are composed out of proteins. These proteins in turn are composed out of smaller building blocks, called amino acids. By consuming a sufficient amount of dietary protein, a sufficient amount of amino acids become available to build new muscle proteins. The body's ability to build these new muscle proteins is of great importance to maintain muscle strength and function.
Previous research suggests that a meal containing proteins from meat results in a better stimulation of the body's ability to build muscle proteins, when compared to a meal containing only plant-based proteins. However, these previous studies have only been performed following the ingestion of a single meal. As a result it is currently unknown how the muscles respond to a more prolonged ingestion of a diet containing animal/meat products, in comparison to a plant-based diet. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how fast new muscle proteins are being build when consuming a diet containing animal/meat products, in comparison to a plant-based (vegan) diet.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Randomized, counter-balanced, cross-over design, researchers and participants are not blinded, analysts are blinded.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| MEAT-PLANT | Experimental | Other: Meat diet, Other: Plant dietParticipants will be subjected to a 10-day diet containing meat and animal products, followed by a 10-day diet containing plant products. During the interventional period participants will perform unilateral lower limb resistance exercise. |
| PLANT-MEAT | Experimental | Other: Meat diet, Other: Plant dietParticipants will be subjected to a 10-day diet containing plant products, followed by a 10-day diet containing meat and animal products. During the interventional period participants will perform unilateral lower limb resistance exercise. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 to 85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Male or female sex
- Aged between 65 and 85 y inclusive
- BMI between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2 inclusive
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Not willing to consume meat/animal-based products during the study period
- Any food allergies (e.g. milk, gluten, etc.)
- Participating currently or in the 3 months prior to the study in a structured progressive exercise program.
- Smoking
- History of cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, neurological, psychiatric, dermatologic, musculoskeletal, metabolic, endocrine, haematological, immunologic disorders, allergy, major surgery and/or laboratory assessments which might limit participation in or completion of the study protocol, interfere with the execution of the experiment, or potential influence the study outcomes (to be decided by the study team and responsible physician)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Meat dietAlso: Omnivorous dietParticipants will be subjected to a 10-day diet containing meat and animal products. During the interventional period participants will perform unilateral lower limb resistance exercise. | Other | MEAT-PLANT, PLANT-MEAT |
| Plant dietAlso: Vegan dietParticipants will be subjected to a 10-day diet containing plant products. During the interventional period participants will perform unilateral lower limb resistance exercise. | Other | MEAT-PLANT, PLANT-MEAT |
Primary outcome
Integrated muscle protein synthesis rate in rested leg
Time frame: The 2 intervention periods over which FSR is determined will each last 10 days
The main study endpoint will be the difference in muscle protein synthesis rates in the non-exercised leg, between the plant-based diet and the meat diet, expressed as FSR (%/day).
7 secondary outcomes
Integrated muscle protein synthesis rate in exercised leg
Time frame: The 2 intervention periods over which FSR is determined will each last 10 days
Blood glucose
Time frame: The 2 intervention periods after which the outcomes are determined will each last 10 days
Blood insulin
Time frame: The 2 intervention periods after which the outcomes are determined will each last 10 days
Blood lipid profile
Time frame: The 2 intervention periods after which the outcomes are determined will each last 10 days
Blood inflammatory markers
Time frame: The 2 intervention periods after which the outcomes are determined will each last 10 days
Blood amino acid profile
Time frame: The 2 intervention periods after which the outcomes are determined will each last 10 days
Blood pressure
Time frame: The 2 intervention periods after which the blood pressure is determined will each last 10 days
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Jul 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
Related trials for Muscle Protein Synthetic Response to Protein
Active, not recruiting
Nutrient Profile and Muscle Protein Synthesis in Response to Corn Bread Made From Refined Versus Whole Grain Maize Flour
Effect of Food
Active, not recruiting
Nutrient and Hormonal Profile and Muscle Protein Synthesis Response to Consuming Chicken
Effect of Food
Recruiting
Leucine Supplementation Strategies to Enhance Muscle Anabolic Responses in Older Age
Muscle Protein Synthesis
Recruiting
Assessing the Dose-response of Muscle Protein Synthesis to "Super-whey" in Older Adults
Sarcopenia
Recruiting
Diet Synergy in Muscle Protein Synthesis
Muscle Protein Synthetic Response to Protein, Muscle Protein Synthesis
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Meat diet and Plant diet in people with Muscle Protein Synthetic Response to Protein, run by Maastricht University Medical Center at 1 site in Netherlands.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Netherlands. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Philippe Pinckaers, PhD (+31 43 388 22 15, philippe.pinckaers@maastrichtuniversity.nl), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Integrated muscle protein synthesis rate in rested leg (time frame: The 2 intervention periods over which FSR is determined will each last 10 days). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Jul 2025.