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Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 65 and up

Plant-based Diet in Older Adults: How It Affects Muscle Health

Official title: Plant-based Diet in Older People: What Consequences for Muscle Health?

Run by University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand · NCT07681986 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study tests whether increasing plant-based foods in the diet of healthy adults 65 and older changes muscle strength and health compared with a diet with more animal foods.

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Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages65 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment60 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Clermont-Ferrand)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJuly 20, 2026
Main results expectedAugust 2029
Study endsAugust 2030
Registry record updatedNovember 4, 2026
Trial IDNCT07681986 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Healthy men and women 65 years and older with BMI 18.5–30 kg/m² and low-to-moderate physical activity levels who can adhere to study procedures and dietary assignments.

Probably not a fit

Individuals with BMI outside the 18.5–30 range, very high activity levels, or conditions preventing adherence to a dietary intervention may not benefit.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This randomized, open-label study compares two dietary patterns in healthy adults aged 65+, focusing on how plant-enriched versus more animal-based diets affect skeletal muscle strength, mass, and function after 3 months. Secondary aims examine changes in protein metabolism, muscle proteome and metabolome, body composition, gut microbiota, and sex-related metabolic differences. Participants undergo medical evaluation, nutrition follow-up, body composition and functional testing, indirect calorimetry, blood sampling for proteomics/metabolomics, and microbiota profiling to explore molecular pathways underlying dietary adaptations. The study uses proteomic and metabolomic analyses to identify potential muscle biomarkers and assess protein bioavailability from the consumed diets. Blood samples may be incubated with muscle cells to probe anabolic potential of ingested proteins.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help guide dietary choices to support muscle health and metabolic well-being in older adults.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research suggests diet composition can influence muscle health, but this exact plant-enriched vs mixed-diet approach with multi-omics is relatively novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* Men and women aged 65 years and older
* Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 30 kg/m² (exclusive)
* Physical activity ≤ 3000 MET-min/week, assessed using the ONAPS-PAQ questionnaire
* Laboratory tests compatible with participation in the study
* Adequate venous status, as assessed by study nurses, allowing catheter placement
* Willingness to participate in study procedures, including indirect calorimetry, functional tests, and assigned dietary intervention (plant-enriched or standard diet)
* Affiliation with the French Social Security system

Exclusion Criteria:

* Men and women aged 65 years and older
* Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 30 kg/m² (exclusive)
* Physical activity \< 3000 MET-min/week, assessed using the ONAPS-PAQ questionnaire
* Laboratory tests compatible with participation in the study
* Adequate venous status, as assessed by study nurses, allowing catheter placement
* Willingness to participate in study procedures, including indirect calorimetry, functional tests, and assigned dietary intervention (plant-enriched or standard diet)
* Affiliation with the French Social Security system
* Exclusion period from a previous study or total compensation exceeding €6,000 in the 12 months prior to study initiation (verified through the National Research Volunteer Database)
* Patients under legal guardianship, curatorship, deprived of liberty, or under judicial protection
* Claustrophobia

Where it's running

  • CHU de Clermont-Ferrand
    Clermont-Ferrand, France     Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.