The Influence of Regular Beef Consumption and Protein Density of the Diet on Training-induced Gains in Muscle Strength and Performance in Healthy Adults

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Official Title
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The Influence of Regular Beef Consumption and Protein Density of the Diet on Training-induced Gains in Muscle Strength and Performance in Healthy Adults

Conditions
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Aging

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Resistance Training Exercise
* Behavioral: Beef Protein Consumption


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Non-obese adults: BMI <30 kg/m2 Aged between 40-64 years Sedentary Weight-stable for 6 months prior Exclusion Criteria: Allergies to beef consumption Phenylketonuria (PKU) BMI >30 kg/m2 history of active cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, GI disorders, musculoskeletal/orthopedic disorders (e.g. osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, tendinitis, gout, fibromyalgia, patellar tendinopathy, or chronic low back pain) hypersensitivity or allergy to antibiotics Kidney, urinary, or liver conditions Epilepsy Diagnosed mental illness have bleeding or clotting disorders (or take related medications e.g.. Coumadin/ low dose Aspirin) High alcohol consumption use tobacco uncontrolled hypertension vegan/vegetarian diets on medications known to affect protein metabolism (i.e. corticosteroids, androgen/estrogen containing compounds, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) habitual consumption of high (>1.8 g protein/kg/d) or low (<0.66 g protein/kg/day) pregnancy supplements that influence protein metabolism (e.g. omega 3 fish oils)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 40 Years
Maximum Age: 64 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional 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


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: RDA<br>Participants will be asked to consume the RDA for protein for a 10 week period while also undergoing progressive resistance training exercise three times a week. Beef protein consumption will be emphasized and participants will consume a beef meal after each training session. | Behavioral: Resistance Training Exercise<br>* Participants will undergo 10 weeks of progressive resistance exercise training while following their randomly assigned nutritional intervention.<br>Behavioral: Beef Protein Consumption<br>* 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.<br>|
| Experimental: 2x RDA<br>Participants will be asked to consume the twice the RDA for protein for a 10 week period while also undergoing progressive resistance training exercise three times a week. Beef protein will be emphasized and participants will consume a beef meal after each training session. | Behavioral: Resistance Training Exercise<br>* Participants will undergo 10 weeks of progressive resistance exercise training while following their randomly assigned nutritional intervention.<br>Behavioral: Beef Protein Consumption<br>* 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.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maximal strength of leg muscles | Assess maximum strength of legs using an isokinetic dynamometer in combination with 1 repetition maximum testing on leg extension, leg press, and leg curl machines. | Change from baseline to the end of the 10 week diet and resistance training intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Muscle cross-sectional area | Using muscle biopsies, the investigators will assess the muscle cross sectional area of the vastus lateralis pre and post intervention. | Change from baseline to the end of the 10 week diet and resistance training intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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beef, protein, resistance training, strength, performance