Recruiting

Plant Based & Whey BasedPrandial Metabolic Phenotyping in Sarcopenic Older Adults Comparing Plant Based and Whey Based Protein

Sponsor:

Texas A&M University

Code:

NCT06628349

Conditions

Protein Metabolism

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 50 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Whey Protein Isolate 90%

Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein)

Organic Pea Protein Isolate

Placebo (Water)

Study Details

Brief summary:

The researchers overall objective is to determine whether plant and animal protein based proteins affect the anabolic responses across aging populations differently due to specific changes in the essential amino acids (EAA) and non-essential amino acids (NEAA) kinetic responses. The researchers central hypothesis is that a high EAA to NEAA ratio in a protein meal is related to higher anabolic response to the meal. The researchers also hypothesize that the type of NEAA in a protein meal also affects the anabolic capacity of the meal. The researchers rationale is that finding the amino acid composition of a meal that will maximally induce protein anabolism will guide novel nutritional approaches to prevent and treat sarcopenia, thereby reducing both overall economic burden and improving individual patient outcomes.

Conditions

Protein Metabolism

Study ID

NCT06628349

Start date

Feb 1, 2024

Status verified date

Nov, 2025

Completion date

Dec, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 50 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

Age 50-95 years old
Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); COPD group only
Stable body-weight (±5%) for the past 3 months
Ability to walk, sit down, and stand up (independently or with walking assistance device)
Willingness to lay supine in bed for up to 6 hours
Willingness and ability to comply with the protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

Established diagnosis and active treatment of chronic disease: Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, active malignancy, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, HIV/AIDS, Asthma (moderate to severe), Hep (A,B, or C)
History of untreated metabolic disease including hepatic or renal disorder
Presence of acute illness or metabolically unstable chronic illness
Hysterectomy
Active dependence of alcohol or drugs
Use of short course of oral corticosteroids within 4 weeks preceding study day
Current use of long-term oral corticosteroids
Use of protein or amino acids containing nutritional supplements within 5 days of the first study day
Presence of fever within the last 3 days
Planned elective surgery requiring 2 or more days of hospitalization during the entire study
(Possible) pregnancy
Failure to give informed consent or Investigator's uncertainty about the willingness or ability of the subject
Already enrolled in another clinical trial
Any condition according to the PI or nurse that was found during the screening visit, that would interfere with the study or safety of the patient
Known allergy to any of the components of the feeding (soy, pea, or whey - dairy)
Established daily diet of vegetarian / vegan composition
<23 MoCa score

Study Design

Enrollment

100 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Crossover

Primary purpose

Other

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Healthy male older adults

Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water

experimental: Healthy female older adults

Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water

experimental: Healthy male old older adults

Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water

experimental: Healthy female old older adults

Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water

experimental: Sarcopenic male old older adults

Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water

experimental: Sarcopenic female old older adults

Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water

experimental: COPD male older adults

Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water

experimental: COPD female older adults

Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein Isolate 90%. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein). Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Organic Pea Protein Isolate. Commercially available Dietary Supplement: Placebo - Water

Interventions

Whey Protein Isolate 90%

Commercially available animal based protein powders

Soy Protein Isolate (90% Protein)

Commercially available plant based protein powders

Organic Pea Protein Isolate

Commercially available plant based protein powders

Placebo (Water)

Normal drinking water

Primary outcome measure

Protein and amino acid synthesis capacity of plant-based and animal-based protein in older adults with or without sarcopenia measured by the use of stable isotope tracers [ Time Frame: 4 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Marielle Engelen, PhD

979-220-2282 mpkj.engelen@ctral.org

Savanah Knezek, BS

979-442-8468 research@ctral.org

Locations

Texas A&M University - CTRAL

Recruiting

College Station, Texas, United States, 77845

Contacts

Laura Ruebush

979-218-5515 le.ruebush@ctral.org

Principal Investigator:

Nicolaas E Deutz, MD, PhD

More Information

Sponsor

Texas A&M University

Last update posted

Nov 25, 2025

Last verified

Nov, 2025

Keywords

Prandial
Sarcopenia
Plant protein
Animal protein

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-09. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Texas A&M University on 2025-11-25.