Personal Protein Digestion Variability
Condition: Digestive System
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This study aims to quantify the variation in postprandial AA profiles between (and within)
      individuals after consumption of a poorly digestible plant protein source (Lucerne) and to
      compare the variation in postprandial AA profiles between a poorly digestible plant protein
      source and an easy digestible protein source (whey).

      The study has a randomised, cross-over, controlled design. Two different treatments, all
      representing a 20g protein load, will be evaluated on five occasions with a washout period of
      minimum one week between the test days. On test days, research subjects will receive two
      different protein sources, in the form of a protein drink, in randomised order; on three test
      days they will receive a poor-digestible protein source, on two test days an easily
      digestible protein source. Blood will be collected via a catheter before and up-to four hours
      after protein consumption. Wellbeing, health complaints or other adverse effects will be
      collected via short questionnaires during each test day. After each test day gastrointestinal
      complaints will be collected via an online questionnaire.
    

Detailed description: 
      There is currently no information on personal protein digestion variability. We recently
      performed a human intervention study on protein digestibility and absorption and observed
      that postprandial plasma amino acid (AA) profiles from an easy digestible animal protein were
      highly comparable among individuals. However, the same profiles from a less digestible
      plant-protein source (e.g. water lentil) showed a large variability among individuals. But in
      order to really speak of personalized digestibility, we must be able to demonstrate that the
      absorption rate of an individual is reproducible. Demonstrating personal differences in AA
      uptake kinetics will affect the way we value (new) protein sources. Determining and
      quantifying individual differences in digestion and absorption will allow us to better
      predict nutritional value of products and diets.

      The primary objective is to quantify the variation in postprandial AA profiles between (and
      within) individuals after consumption of a poorly digestible plant protein source (Lucerne).
      Secondary objective is to compare the variation in postprandial AA profiles between a poorly
      digestible plant protein source and an easy digestible protein source (whey).

      The study has a randomised, cross-over, controlled design. Two different treatments, all
      representing a 20g protein load, will be evaluated on five occasions with a washout period of
      minimum one week between the test days. On test days, research subjects will receive two
      different protein sources, in the form of a protein drink, in randomised order; on three test
      days they will receive a poor-digestible protein source, on two test days an easily
      digestible protein source. Blood will be collected via a catheter before and up-to four hours
      after protein consumption. Wellbeing, health complaints or other adverse effects will be
      collected via short questionnaires during each test day. After each test day gastrointestinal
      complaints will be collected via an online questionnaire.
    

Intervention name(s): Lucerne protein concentrate shake; Whey protein concentrate shake
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): At three out of five test days: Lucerne protein concentrate powder will be mixed with water to obtain a shake, representing a 20g protein load.; At two out of five test days: Whey protein concentrate powder will be mixed with water to obtain a shake, representing a 20g protein load.
Other intervention name(s): Alfalfa protein concentrate shake
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Investigator)
Primary purpose: Other
Keywords: Plant protein; Digestibility; Protein digestion kinetics; Personalized digestibility; Lucerne