NCT04232254

Defining Beef and Meal Frequency as Key Components of a Healthy Eating Pattern for Muscle Health and Wellbeing

Completed NA Last updated 17 August 2025

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Animal-based Protein Foods in Meal Frequency in 40 participants. Completed in 14 March 2024.

Timeline

1 June 2021

Primary endpoint
14 March 2024

14 March 2024

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	factorial
Masking	none
Primary purpose	treatment
Enrollment	40
Start date	1 June 2021
Primary completion	14 March 2024
Estimated completion	14 March 2024
Sites	1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

• Animal-based Protein Foods
• Skewed Protein Distribution
• Plant-based Protein Foods
• Balanced Protein Distribution

Conditions studied

• Meal Frequency — all drugs for Meal Frequency →
• Dietary Habits — all drugs for Dietary Habits →
• Muscle Protein Synthesis — all drugs for Muscle Protein Synthesis →

Sponsor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Who can join

Adults 20 to 40, any sex, with Meal Frequency or Dietary Habits. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Adopting a healthy eating pattern is important for meeting dietary recommendations and weight management. Although less clear, it seems reasonable to assume that the eating patterns we typically follow can also affect our psychological wellbeing. As such, healthy eating patterns are often adapted to suit one's personal preference. For example, many people choose to follow a vegetarian-style eating pattern whereby meat, poultry, and seafood are excluded from the diet. However, current research suggests that vegetarian eating patterns may result in decreased synthesis of new muscle proteins when compared to the typical meat-based US-style diet. This ultimately leads to reduced muscle quality and mass which increases the risk of dependence and mobility limitations later in life.

Another important factor to consider when adapting a healthy eating pattern is the frequency and distribution of meals throughout the day. In the US, protein intake is typically skewed throughout the day such that people consume more protein at dinner when compared to breakfast. This skewed distribution combined with a low meal frequency (3 meals per day) can also sacrifice the rate of muscle protein synthesis. As such, it is important to investigate the interaction between food choices, meal frequency, and protein distribution to promote muscle health and prevent development of disease and disability. In addition, it is also important to understand how these eating patterns affect enjoyment and pleasure following meals. This work will help to determine healthy eating patterns that promote muscle health and psychological wellbeing.

Publications & conference data

1 peer-reviewed publication reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Impact of Vegan Diets on Resistance Exercise-Mediated Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis in Healthy Young Males and Females: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
   Askow AT, Barnes TM, Zupancic Z, Deutz MT, et al · · 2025 · cited 5× · PMID 40197715 · DOI 10.1249/mss.0000000000003725