The Influence of Regular Beef Consumption and Protein Density of the Diet on Training-induced Gains in Muscle Strength and Performance in Healthy Adults
Condition: Aging
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Humans lose muscle and strength as they get older. Further, ageing is accompanied by loss in
      cognitive function. It is not quite clear why this happens; however, it is known that the
      loss of muscle and strength can increase risk for physical and mental health risks and impair
      the ability of older people to remain physically independent. Weight lifting and proper
      nutrition, particularly eating high quality protein at the proper time and quantity, may help
      prevent these losses when a person gets older. To determine if regular beef consumption as
      part of a higher protein diet aids the muscle adaptive response to resistance training and
      improvements in cognition, seventy healthy individuals will be recruited to lift weights 3
      times a week for 10 weeks. One group (n=36) will consume the Recommended Dietary Allowance
      (RDA) for protein (0.8g/kg/day), while the other group (n=36) will consume an amount twice
      the RDA (1.6g/kg/day), which is in agreement with recommendations from the American College
      of Sports Medicine. Participants will have their muscle strength tested and samples of blood
      and muscles will be collected before and after training to determine how the muscle adaptive
      response to resistance exercise is affected by higher protein intake. In addition,
      participants will undergo cognitive assessments at baseline and follow-up to determine the
      influence of improving muscle strength on attention and memory. Overall, the investigators
      proposed study will use sensitive methodology to determine if providing protein above the RDA
      and at optimal times during the day in combination with a weight lifting program can help
      make someone stronger and build larger muscles than someone consuming the RDA, as well as
      what processes may be responsible for helping the muscles to get bigger and stronger.
    


Intervention name(s): Resistance Training Exercise; Beef Protein Consumption
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Participants will undergo 10 weeks of progressive resistance exercise training while following their randomly assigned nutritional intervention.; Following each resistance training sessions, participants will consume either a 3oz or 6oz beef patty (corresponding to the randomly assigned nutritional intervention group). Participants will also be provided with beef protein powder and beef snack bars to help them achieve their assigned protein goals during the intervention period.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: This study will consist of two groups: one group will be asked to consume 2x the RDA of protein during the 10 week intervention, while the other group will be asked to consume the RDA for protein. Both groups will receive 10 weeks of the same resistance training intervention.
Masking: Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Basic Science
Keywords: beef; protein; resistance training; strength; performance