Plant versus animal protein supplements to improve brain blood flow, insulin response, thinking, and appetite in older adults
Effects of Daily Protein Supplementation on Brain Function in Older Adults With Overweight or Obesity
This tests whether two weeks of a daily plant or animal protein supplement can improve brain blood flow, brain insulin response, thinking, and appetite control in overweight or obese adults aged 60–75.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 25 (estimated) |
| Ages | 60 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Maastricht University Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Maastricht, Limburg) |
| Trial ID | NCT07057245 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Overweight or obese adults aged 60–75 receive daily supplementation for two weeks with either a plant-derived protein isolate, an animal-derived protein isolate, or a cornstarch control, and undergo before-and-after testing. Key outcomes include measures of cerebral blood flow and brain insulin sensitivity, plus cognitive performance tests and appetite-related brain reward activity. Participants are screened to exclude diabetes, major metabolic abnormalities, vegetarians, and certain allergies, and testing is conducted at the Maastricht University Medical Center. The design aims to determine whether short-term protein supplementation from different sources produces measurable changes in brain vascular and metabolic function and related behaviors.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are men and women aged 60–75 with BMI 25–35 kg/m2, stable body weight, normal fasting glucose and lipid thresholds, willing to attend in-person visits and avoid blood donation around the study period, and without diabetes, vegetarian diet, or relevant food allergies.
Not a fit: People with diabetes, vegetarians, those with milk or fava bean allergies, current smokers, or those outside the specified age and BMI ranges are unlikely to qualify or to receive benefit from the interventions tested here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could show that short-term protein supplementation—especially from sustainable plant sources—improves brain blood flow, insulin response, thinking, and appetite control in overweight older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior work suggests protein-rich meals can improve brain insulin sensitivity and appetite regulation, but direct head-to-head comparisons of plant versus animal protein on brain vascular function remain limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion 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)
Where this trial is running
Maastricht, Limburg
- Maastricht University Medical Center — Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.