Comparing lean pork and plant-based protein diets for prediabetic adults
Official title: Effects of Lean Pork Loin Intake on Protein Homeostasis and Glucose Regulation in Prediabetic Adults
Run by University of Arkansas · NCT06025292 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether eating lean pork or plant-based protein helps adults with prediabetes manage their blood sugar and build muscle better.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 40 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Arkansas Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy, radiation, prednisone |
| Locations | 1 site (Little Rock, Arkansas) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 11, 2024 |
| Main results expected | March 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | August 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | November 6, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06025292 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are males and females aged 40-60 years with a BMI between 25 and 40 and an HbA1c level between 5.7 and 6.4%.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who do not consume animal protein or have certain health conditions, such as chronic inflammatory diseases or recent cancer treatments, may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study compares the effects of a high-quality protein diet primarily consisting of lean pork loin against a lower-quality plant-based protein diet in adults with prediabetes. It aims to assess how these dietary interventions influence muscle protein synthesis, whole-body protein turnover, and glucose regulation. Participants will be monitored over a four-day meal period while adhering to specific dietary restrictions. The study focuses on understanding the role of protein quality in managing prediabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide insights into dietary recommendations that improve glucose regulation and protein metabolism in prediabetic individuals.
How similar studies have gone: While there is ongoing research into protein quality and its effects on health, this specific comparison of lean pork versus plant-based protein in prediabetic adults is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 1\. Males and females ages 40-65 years. * 2\. BMI 25 to ≤40 kg/m2 (or body fat % ≥25% in males or ≥36% in females) * 3\. Capable of providing informed consent. * 4\. COVID-19 negative and/or asymptomatic. * 5\. Willing to abstain from drinking alcohol or consuming marijuana and CBD products during the 4-day study meal period * 6\. HbA1c: 5.7-6.4% or fasting glucose 100-125 mg/dL Exclusion Criteria: * 1\. Participant who does not/will not eat animal protein sources. * 2\. Allergy to wheat, soy, or common ingredients in plant-based protein products. * 3\. Body mass index \<25 kg/m2 or \>40 kg/m2. * 4\. Hemoglobin \<10g/dL at screening. * 5\. Platelets \<150,000/uL at screening. * 6\. History of chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer in the 6 months prior to enrollment. * 7\. History of gastrointestinal bypass/reduction surgery. * 8\. Pregnant or lactating individuals. * 9\. History of a chronic inflammatory disease (e.g. Lupus, Crohn's disease) * 10\. Currently receiving androgen (e.g., testosterone) or anabolic (e.g., GH, IGF-I) therapy. * 11\. Currently using prescription blood thinning medications. * 12\. Currently using corticosteroid medications (cortisone, hydrocortisone, prednisone, etc.). * 13\. Unable or unwilling to suspend aspirin use for 7 days prior to Visit 3 and Visit 7. * 14\. Unwilling to avoid using protein or amino-acid supplements during participation. * 15\. Unwilling to fast overnight. * 16\. Unwilling to avoid alcohol, marijuana and CBD products for the four study days. * 17\. Participants on glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1-RA) medications for \<1 month or with less than one treatment dose (injection) every two weeks
Where it's running
-
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: David Church, PhD — University of Arkansas
- Study coordinator: David Church, PhD
- Email: dchurch@uams.edu
- Phone: 501-526-5769
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Lifestyle Metabotype Study B: Understanding Personalized Glucose Responses
This study tests how lifestyle, metabolism, and brain energy use relate to each person’s blood sugar response after meals, across people with and without prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
-
Lifestyle Metabotype Study: How Daily Habits Shape Blood Sugar
This observational study tests whether personal lifestyle and biological factors can predict how a person’s blood sugar responds after meals.
-
Hourly stair-climbing snacks to improve blood sugar and heart health in adults with prediabetes
This study tests whether short stair-climbing bursts every hour can improve blood sugar and vascular health in adults with prediabetes.
-
Smart probiotic and nutraceutical approach for cardiometabolic health in older adults
This trial tests whether a probiotic-containing nutraceutical strategy can improve metabolic health and blood pressure in adults over 65 with prediabetes or cardiovascular disease.
-
Family-based diabetes prevention for parents and kids
A family-focused program tests whether a 12-week lifestyle plan can help parents at risk for diabetes lose weight and improve healthy habits for themselves and their children aged 12–17.
-
Cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in children with obesity and autism
This study tests whether cardiorespiratory fitness and handgrip strength differ between children with obesity who have autism and those who do not, and how these fitness measures relate to body size, composition, and cardiometabolic health.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.