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The Effects of Cricket- and Beef-derived Protein on Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations and Appetite Responses

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McGill University

Status

Completed

Conditions

Aminoacidemia
Appetitive Behavior

Treatments

Dietary Supplement: Beef-derived Protein
Dietary Supplement: Cricket-derived Protein

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04719429
A08-M28-18B

Details and patient eligibility

About

Dietary protein plays an important role in appetite regulation. Source of ingested dietary protein may have different effects on appetite, satiety, and/or food intake in humans. Insects are a rich source of protein consumed by many people around the world; however, the capacity of insect-derived protein to regulate appetite and food intake is unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare postprandial plasma glucose, insulin, amino acid, and appetite regulatory hormone concentrations, subjective appetite sensations, and food intake following the ingestion of 25 g of cricket- and beef-derived protein in healthy young males.

Full description

With the rapid increase in the global population, the production of sufficient amounts of conventional animal-based protein to meet global dietary demands may no longer be desired nor feasible. Insects may represent an environmentally sustainable additional source of dietary protein that has the potential to help ensure global food security in the future. However, the functional characteristics of insect-derived proteins when fed to humans is unclear. Further, how insect-derived proteins compare to other animal-derived proteins (e.g. from beef) have not been explored.

The purpose of this study was to compare postprandial plasma glucose, insulin, and amino acid concentrations, gut-derived appetite regulatory hormones, subjective appetite sensations, and ad libitum energy intake following the ingestion of 25 g insect- or beef-derived protein in healthy young men. It was hypothesized that hyperaminoacidaemia would be more rapid following the ingestion of beef-derived protein compared to cricket-derived protein, although total amino acid availability would be similar between protein sources over a 300-minute postprandial period. It was further hypothesized there would be no difference between protein sources on postprandial subjective appetite sensations or subsequent ad libitum energy intake.

Enrollment

20 patients

Sex

Male

Ages

18 to 35 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • Male
  • Aged between 18-35 years inclusive
  • Healthy, moderately active
  • BMI < 30 kg/m2 and > 18.5 kg/m2
  • Having given informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of any identified metabolic or intestinal disorders
  • Use of tobacco products
  • Adherence to a strict vegetarian or vegan diet
  • Use of medications known to affect protein metabolism
  • Allergy to shellfish or crustaceans
  • Allergy to beef protein
  • Engagement in physical exercise training more than 6 days per week

Trial design

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Crossover Assignment

Masking

Quadruple Blind

20 participants in 2 patient groups

Cricket-derived protein beverage
Experimental group
Description:
Ingestion of a cricket-derived protein beverage
Treatment:
Dietary Supplement: Cricket-derived Protein
Beef-derived protein beverage
Experimental group
Description:
Ingestion of a beef-derived protein beverage
Treatment:
Dietary Supplement: Beef-derived Protein

Trial contacts and locations

1

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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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