The Anabolic Properties of a Lipid-rich Pork Matrix

Overview

The amount and quality of skeletal muscle mass determines physical performance, but also a significant contributor to metabolic health. As such, the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass is relevant across the lifespan to remain active in family and community life. Food ingestion, particularly protein, is one of the main anabolic to skeletal muscle tissue by stimulating muscle protein synthesis rates. There have been multiple attempts to identify specialized performance nutrition products (e.g., various isolated protein powders) to maximize the anabolic properties of dietary protein on muscle. Our research group, however, has advocated for a food focus approach to meet dietary protein requirements. Particularly, we propose that whole foods demonstrate food matrix effects (nutrient-nutrient interactions) that creates a greater anabolic action on muscle beyond what amino acids can create alone. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify the anabolic properties of consuming lipid-rich pork products when compared to their leaner counter-parts. Our working hypothesis that the ingestion of 84% or 96% lean ground pork condition will stimulate a greater increase in muscle protein synthesis rates compared to an isocaloric carbohydrate beverage in healthy adults. We further hypothesize that the ingestion of 84% lean pork will augment the stimulation of muscle protein synthesis rates to a greater extent than 96% lean ground pork. To achieve our objective, we will recruit 15 healthy men and women (20-50 y) to receive prime-constant infusions to directly measure muscle protein synthesis rates before and after treatment ingestion using our lab's established methods.

Study Type

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)
• Study Primary Completion Date: March 1, 2024

Interventions

• Other: 96% Lean Pork
  • This intervention will contain ~122 kcals, ~4.7 g fat, and ~20 g protein from 96% lean ground pork.
• Other: 84% Lean Pork
  • This intervention will contain ~216 kcals, ~15.0 g fat, and ~20 g protein from 85% lean ground pork.
• Other: Carbohydrate Beverage
  • This intervention will contain ~216 kcals and ~56.3 g carbohydrate from a carbohydrate beverage.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

• Active Comparator: Low-Fat Pork
  • This condition will consist of consuming ~65.4 g of 96% lean ground pork.
• Experimental: High-Fat Pork
  • This condition will consist of consuming ~74.9 g of 84% lean ground pork.
• Placebo Comparator: Carbohydrate Control
  • This condition will consist of a carbohydrate beverage.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

• Myofibrillar Fractional Synthetic Rate
  • Time Frame: During 6-hour post-prandial period following consumption of the study meal or beverage
  • Rate of building new protein in skeletal muscle contractile protein

Secondary Measures

• Plasma Amino Acid Concentration
  • Time Frame: During the 3-hour post-absorptive period prior to ingestion of the study meal or beverage and throughout the 6-hour post-prandial period following meal ingestion
  • Concentration of amino acids in plasma as determined by LC/MS/MS
• Plasma Free Fatty Acid Concentration
  • Time Frame: During the 3-hour post-absorptive period prior to ingestion of the study meal or beverage and throughout the 6-hour post-prandial period following meal ingestion
  • Concentration of amino acids in plasma as determined by GC-MS
• Plasma Insulin Concentration
  • Time Frame: During the 3-hour post-absorptive period prior to ingestion of the study meal or beverage and throughout the 6-hour post-prandial period following meal ingestion
  • Concentration of insulin in plasma as determined by commercially-available ELISA kits
• Plasma Glucose Concentration
  • Time Frame: During the 3-hour post-absorptive period prior to ingestion of the study meal or beverage and throughout the 6-hour post-prandial period following meal ingestion
  • Concentration of glucose in plasma as determined by an automated biochemistry analyzer (YSI)

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 20-50 yrs – Pre-menopausal – Recreationally active – Weight stable for prior 6 months Exclusion Criteria:

• Age outside of range (20 – 50 yrs) – Pregnancy – Irregular menstrual cycles – Participation in previous research using [13C6]phenylalanine – Participation in other ongoing research that interferes with this study (e.g., conflicting diet, activity interventions, etc.) – Any hospitalization or surgery for a metabolic, cardiovascular, or neuromusculoskeletal complication within the past year – Allergy or hypersensitivity to local anesthetics, latex, or adhesives (bandages, medical tape, etc.) – Excess scarring after injury – History of excess bleeding after cut – Chronic or frequent dizziness/fainting, and arm or leg weakness/numbness – Arthritis – Tumors – Mental Illness – Hepatorenal, cardiovascular musculoskeletal, autoimmune, or neurological disease or disorder – Predisposition to hypertrophic scarring or keloid formation – Physical activity limitations – Consumption of ergogenic-levels of dietary supplements that may affect muscle mass (e.g., creatine, HMB), insulin-like substances, or anabolic/catabolic pro-hormones (e.g., DHEA) within 6 weeks prior to participation – Consumption of thyroid, androgenic, or other medications known to affect endocrine function – Consumption of medications known to affect protein metabolism (e.g., prescription-strength corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, or acne medication) – Unwillingness to comply with study procedures – Weight unstable (variation >5% of bodyweight in last 6-12 months) – Current or previous tobacco use with last 6 months – Obesity (body mass index; BMI > 30 kg/m^2) – Score of less than 14 or greater than 24 on Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire – Phenylketonuria – Anyone hospitalized previously for COVID-19 without a cardiovascular workup screening for cardiovascular issues post-infection – Anyone recovering from COVID-19 infection within the preceding 10 days

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 20 Years

Maximum Age: 50 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

• Lead Sponsor
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
  • Sponsor
• Overall Official(s)
  • Nicholas A Burd, PhD, Principal Investigator, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Overall Contact(s)
  • Andrew T Askow, MS, (608) 630-0237, askow2@illinois.edu