Protein, Platelet, and Monocyte
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrollment
- 10
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- p-mTOR in monocytes
Study Overview
Brief Summary
High protein low carbohydrate diets have become popular in recent years to help facilitate weight loss. It is controversial if these diets are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Recent work in mice has implicated monocytes/macrophages and mTOR signaling as the culprit cell type driving the increased cardiovascular risk with high protein diets. We aim to build on this preclinical research by evaluating the effects of liquid meals with different protein and leucine (a potent mTOR activator) contents on circulating human monocytes and platelets. Study participants will be given either a low protein liquid meal, a high protein liquid meal, or a low protein liquid meal with additional leucine. Blood will be collected from study participants just just prior to and for several hours after ingestion of the meals. Activation of amino acid-dependent signaling pathways (particularly mTOR) and downstream sequelae will be evaluated in the isolated monocytes and platelets.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Crossover
- Primary Purpose
- Basic Science
- Masking
- Double (Participant, Investigator)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 95 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •18 years or older
- •able to drink milk-based liquid mixed meal
Exclusion Criteria
- •Current Pregnancy
- •Allergies to meal ingredients
- •History of Diabetes
- •History of Heart Disease
- •History of High blood pressure
- •History of Stroke
- •History of Cancer
- •History of Organ transplant
- •Taking Rapamycin/Sirolimus
- •Taking Torisel/Temsirolimus
- •Taking Afinitor/Everolimus
- •Taking any statin medication
Arms & Interventions
Standard protein meal
Participants will receive a standard protein meal, containing about 10% of energy as protein
Intervention: Meal (Other)
High protein meal
Participants will receive a high protein meal, containing about 50% of energy as protein
Intervention: Meal (Other)
Low protein meal + leucine
Participants will receive a standard protein meal, containing about 10% of energy as protein to which leucine has been added to match the total leucine content of the high protein meal
Intervention: Meal (Other)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
p-mTOR in monocytes
Time Frame: change from before meal at 1 hour and 3 hours, compared to before
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported
Investigators
Bettina Mittendorfer
Professor of Medicine
University of Missouri-Columbia