Effect of 3 Different Daily Protein Intakes in a 2-Meal Eating Pattern on Protein Turnover in Middle Age and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background

Reduced meal frequency patterns have become popular for weight loss, maintenance, and improving cardiometabolic health. The extended fasting windows with these dietary patterns could lead to greater protein breakdown, which is a concern for middle-aged and older adults who may need higher protein intakes to maintain or increase net protein balance.

Objectives

This study aimed to quantify muscle and whole-body protein kinetic responses to 3 different daily protein intakes within a 2-meal eating pattern.

Methods

Thirty participants (age: 61 ± 6 y, BMI: 26.5 ± 4.8 kg/m²) participated in this 24-h metabolic study using oral stable isotope tracer techniques and were randomized to 1 of 3 protein intakes: 1) recommended dietary allowance (RDA): 0.8 g/kg/d; 2) habitual United States intake: 1.1 g/kg/d; or 3) ≈2RDA: 1.5 g/kg/d distributed across 2 meals, consumed within a 9-h window.

Results

Whole-body net protein balance was significantly higher for 1.5 g/kg/d compared with 0.8 g/kg/d [mean difference: 0.55 g/kg; lean body mass (LBM)/d; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.17, 0.93 g/kg LBM/d; P = 0.004] and 1.1 g/kg/d (mean difference: 0.6 g/kg LBM/d; 95%CI: 0.23, 0.97 g/kg LBM/d; P = 0.001), with no difference between 0.8 and 1.1 g/kg/d (mean difference: 0.05 g/kg LBM/d; 95%CI: −0.31, 0.40 g/kg LBM/d; P = 0.936). Muscle protein synthesis was not significantly different between any groups (P = 0.388).

Conclusion

s: Within a 2-meal eating pattern, a protein intake of 1.5 g/kg/d led to a more positive whole-body net protein balance than intakes of 0.8 and 1.1 g/kg/d in middle-aged and older adults.

This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04830514.