Effects of Protein Supplementation on Brain Function
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Protein supplementation with an animal-based protein isolate, Protein supplementation with a plant-based protein isolate, Control arm - cornstarch.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Brain Vascular Function, Cognitive Function, Satiety, Cerebral Blood Flow. Basic parameters: 60 years — 75 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Netherlands
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Effects of Daily Protein Supplementation on Brain Function in Older Adults With Overweight or Obesity
Overview
Protein-rich foods may improve brain insulin-sensitivity, which is important for cognitive and metabolic health, and may also translate into an improved food intake regulation. It is therefore pertinent to delineate the effects of plant-derived proteins, which are a more sustainable alternative to animal-derived proteins, on brain insulin-sensitivity and related functional benefits. The hypothesis is that daily plant-derived or animal-derived protein supplementation improves brain vascular function and insulin-sensitivity, thereby improving cognitive performance and appetite control in overweight or obese older men and women. The primary objective is to investigate in overweight or obese older adults the effect of daily protein supplementation for two weeks with either a plant-derived protein or an animal-derived protein on vascular function and insulin-sensitivity in the brain, while changes in cognitive performance and appetite-related brain reward activity will also be evaluated (secondary study objectives). Cerebral blood flow responses before (brain vascular function) and after the administration of intranasal insulin spray (brain insulin-sensitivity) will be quantified by the gold standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-perfusion method Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL).
Interventions
- Dietary supplement Protein supplementation with an animal-based protein isolate
Study participants will consume, in random order, twice daily (2 x \~20 g) a plant protein (fava bean protein isolate), animal protein (milk protein isolate) or control (cornstarch providing no extra protein) - Dietary supplement Protein supplementation with a plant-based protein isolate
Study participants will consume, in random order, twice daily (2 x \~20 g) a plant protein (fava bean protein isolate), animal protein (milk protein isolate) or control (cornstarch providing no extra protein) - Other Control arm - cornstarch
Study participants will consume, in random order, twice daily (2 x \~20 g) a plant protein (fava bean protein isolate), animal protein (milk protein isolate) or control (cornstarch providing no extra protein)
Primary outcome measures
- Cerebral blood flow responses before (brain vascular function) and after the administration of intranasal insulin spray (brain insulin-sensitivity) [Time frame: Measured after 2 weeks of supplementation with protein isolate or control]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Cognitive performance [Time frame: Measured after 2 weeks of supplementation with protein isolate or control]
- Appetite-related brain reward activity [Time frame: Measured after 2 weeks of supplementation with protein isolate or control]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Men and women, aged between 60-75 years (older adults)
- BMI between 25-35 kg/m2 (overweight or obese)
- Fasting plasma glucose < 7.0 mmol/L
- Fasting serum total cholesterol < 8.0 mmol/L
- Fasting serum triacylglycerol < 4.5 mmol/L
- Systolic blood pressure < 160 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg
- Stable body weight (weight gain or loss < 3 kg in the past three months)
- Willingness to give up being a blood donor from 8 weeks before the start of the study, during the study and for 4 weeks after completion of the study
- No difficult venipuncture as evidenced during the screening visit
Exclusion criteria
- Intolerant to milk products or fava bean allergy
- Vegetarians
- Left-handedness
- Current smoker, or smoking cessation < 12 months
- Diabetic patients
- Familial hypercholesterolemia
- Abuse of drugs
- More than 3 alcoholic consumptions per day
- Use of products or dietary supplements known to interfere with the main outcomes as judged by the principal investigators
- Use medication to treat blood pressure, lipid, or glucose metabolism
- Use of an investigational product within another biomedical intervention trial within the previous 1-month
- Severe medical conditions that might interfere with the study, such as epilepsy, asthma, kidney failure or renal insufficiency, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, auto inflammatory diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis
- Active cardiovascular disease like congestive heart failure or cardiovascular event, such as an acute myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident
- Contra-indications for MRI imaging (e.g., pacemaker, surgical clips/material in body, metal splinter in eye, claustrophobia)
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
Study locations
Netherlands · 1 center
- Maastricht University Medical Center — Maastricht
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07057245 · METC 24-053