Optimal Protein Dose Per Meal During Weight Loss in Perspective to Maintaining Muscle Mass

Optimizing Per Meal Protein Intake During Weight Loss

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT03326284

Enrollment

Registered

2017-10-31

Start date

2017-08-01

Completion date

2018-02-01

Last updated

2019-07-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Protein Metabolism

Keywords

Hypocaloric diet, Dietary protein

Brief summary

The primary aim of the trial is to determine the optimal dose of protein per meal in relation to enhancing muscle protein synthesis and thereby in perspective counteract muscle loss during weight loss. In addition, we aim to determine whether the response to protein intake is reduced in women on hypocaloric diet compared to in women on an energy-balanced diet.

Detailed description

Aim of this project is to determine the optimal protein dose (high quality milk protein) per meal in relation to enhancing muscle protein synthesis and thereby counteract muscle loss during weight loss. The hypothesis is that the optimum dose of protein for women on a hypocaloric diet will be greater than when women eat an energy sufficient diet, and also higher than the optimal dose previously determined in weight stable men. Methods: Forty women (\ 50 years) will be randomized to four groups. Following a five day hypocaloric diet (three groups) or an energy balanced diet (one group). The women will report to the laboratory to ingest one of three different protein doses. The muscle protein response to the different doses of protein will be determined by the muscle protein fractional synthetic rates using tracer kinetics.

Interventions

OTHER15 g protein hypocaloric

Following a 5 day hypocaloric diet one group of 10 women will ingest 15 g of protein

OTHER35 g protein hypocaloric

Following a 5 day hypocaloric diet one group of 10 women will ingest 35 g of protein

OTHER60 g protein hypocaloric

Following a 5 day hypocaloric diet one group of 10 women will ingest 60 g of protein

OTHER35 g protein energy balance

Following a 5 day energy balanced diet one group of 10 women will ingest 35 g of protein

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE (Subject)

Masking description

The protein doses provided will be masked. As all participants will receive the same amount and the drinks will taste similarly.

Intervention model description

: Forty women (\ 50 years) will be randomized to four groups. Following a five day hypocaloric diet (three groups) or an energy balanced diet (one group). The women will report to the laboratory to ingest one of three different protein doses.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

FEMALE

Age

45 Years to 75 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* healthy * Postmenopausal women

Exclusion criteria

* Smoking * Metabolic and/or chronic diseases

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Fractional synthetic rate	3 hours after ingestion of protein	Mixed muscle protein synthetic rate determined by tracer kinetics

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Muscle signalling	3 hours after ingestion of protein.	Markers for myofibrillar protein turnover measured by RT-PCR and western blotting

Countries

Denmark

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 10, 2026