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Impact of Reducing Dietary Intake of Red and Processed Meat Intake on Fasting Lipemia in Healthy Participants

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Lipidemia
Interventions
Behavioral: Meat reduction
Registration Number
NCT02907112
Lead Sponsor
University of Nottingham
Brief Summary

Excessive meat consumption, particularly of red and processed meat, is associated with increased risk of developing a range of chronic diseases. Meat production also significantly contributes to the production of global greenhouse gasses (GHG). Given the predicted global increase in the human population, coupled with the rise in demand for meat within emerging economies, it has been suggested that strategies to alter dietary patterns and reduce meat intake should be devised. With the provision of appropriate non- or reduced-meat alternatives, this study aims to investigate whether free living subjects can significantly reduce their meat intake, and whether such dietary changes positively impact on a range of health measures

Detailed Description

In UK adults, meat provides approximately 40% of the average daily protein intake and makes a significant contribution to intake of thiamin, niacin, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, potassium, and phosphorus. However, excessive consumption, particularly of red and processed meat, is associated with increased risk of developing a range of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Meat production significantly contributes to the production of greenhouse gasses (GHG) and hence global warming. Given the predicted global increase in the human population, coupled with the rise in demand for meat within emerging economies, it has been suggested that concerted efforts should be made to alter dietary patterns and reduce meat intake. Moreover, a number of reports have suggested that replacing meat with non-meat protein-rich products has health benefits. Such products tend to be inherently lower in total and saturated fat and, higher in fibre and as such, could also be cardioprotective.

The aim of this trial will be to investigate whether, with appropriate non/reduced-meat alternatives and motivational support, free living subjects can significantly reduce their meat intake and whether such dietary changes positively impact on a range of cardiovascular risk factors.

Trial design; A non-randomised, single group study design, with an initial control period will be used.

Participants; Forty healthy men and women will be recruited from the general population of Nottinghamshire, UK. All participants will attend the David Greenfield Human Physiology Unit (Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK) for an initial medical screening visit to confirm health status. In addition, blood pressure (BP) will be measured at the left upper arm (after lying semi-supine for 5min) using automated oscillometry, and body mass index (BMI) will be calculated from measured height and weight. If participants are suitable to take part with regards to their health questionnaire and BMI measures, a venous blood sample will then be taken to assess full blood count, urea, and electrolytes. Those taking lipid-lowering medication, or who report using nutritional strategies to lower their cholesterol, will be excluded. Participants will be accepted onto the trial if they report habitual consumption of 4-5 portions of red and/or processed meat per week (with 3-4 of these being consumed as main meals), they do not have food allergies related to soya or mycoprotein, and do not demonstrate any clinically significant abnormalities on screening.

Study Protocol; After recruitment, participants will be asked to record all food intake (including snacks and drinks) in a diet diary, for 4 days (3x week or work days, and 1x weekend or rest day) prior to assessment visit 1, for baseline assessment of macronutrient and energy intake. Individuals will be asked to complete further 4-day diet diaries in the week before assessment visits 2,3 and 4 (weeks 4, 10, and 16), to assess any changes in macronutrient or energy intake and meat consumption which may have occurred as a consequence of the intervention. Household measures will be used to estimate portion size, and diaries will be analysed using a food composition database. To calculate habitual diet composition, a mean daily intake will obtained from all 4 days of each recording period, and these data will be combined to produce group means.

Assessment visits will take place in the morning after the individual has fasted from midnight the night before. Initially, measurement of body mass will be made to the nearest 0.1kg using a Seca 882 Digital Scale, and waist and hip circumference will be assessed (with the participant standing) mid-way between the lowest rib and the iliac crest, and at the greater trochanters, respectively. Participants will then be asked to rest, semi-supine, on a couch for \>5min before having their resting BP measured, and estimation of body composition made using bioelectrical impedance. A 5ml fasting blood sample will be taken for determination of serum insulin, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), triacyl glycerides (TAG) and whole blood glucose. In a subset of the cohort (n=26, 13 Male:13 Female), flow mediated dilatation (FMD) will also be measured on the laboratory visits when fasted, after resting semi-supine for 1 and 2 hours.

Intervention; After visit 1 (week 0) assessment, participants will be asked not to make any changes to their lifestyle and to continue their habitual diet until visit 2 (week 4) when a second assessment will be made ('control' period). The 12 week 'intervention' period will begin on the day after the second study visit. Participants will be given information regarding how meat intake can safely be reduced in their diet, including a recipe book containing ideas for meals using meat analogues and other protein sources. A range of frozen meat-free (soya or mycoprotein 'mince', mycoprotein sausages, meatballs and 'steak strips') and reduced meat products (pork sausages, beef meatballs, beef mince and beef burgers made with 50% meat and 50% soya or mycoprotein) are available for the participants to use to aid this reduction in red meat intake. In addition, a range of dried beans (red kidney, haricot, black turtle), pulses (chick peas, green and red lentils) and grains (quinoa) will also be offered. Weekly telephone contact with the study participants will be maintained over the intervention period to improve compliance, to identify any problems and to arrange further food deliveries.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
37
Inclusion Criteria

BMI 18 - 28 kg/m2 Healthy Females should be premenopausal Good spoken and written English Consume 4-5 portions of red and/or processed meat per week consumption of greater than 70g per day

Exclusion Criteria

Smoking Chronic diseases Hypertension Pregnancy / Breast feeding Chronic medication use (excluding oral contraceptives) Participation in any other research study three months prior to the screening or during study duration Clinically significant findings at screening

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Meat ReductionMeat reductionParticipants asked to reduce their red and processed meat intake by 50% for 12 weeks
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Fasting Serum total cholesterol concentrationWeek 0, 4,10 and 16

Fasting Serum total cholesterol concentration

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Full blood countWeek 0,10 and 16

blood cell count, including haemoglobin

Fasting Serum LDL cholesterol concentrationWeek 0, 4,10 and 16

Fasting Serum LDL cholesterol concentration

Fasting Serum HDL cholesterol concentrationWeek 0, 4,10 and 16

Fasting Serum HDL cholesterol concentration

Body mass index calculated from measured height and weight (BMI)Week 0, 4,10 and 16

Body mass index calculated from measured height and weight (BMI)

% body fat determined by Bio-electrical ImpedanceWeek 0, 4,10 and 16

% body fat determined by Bio-electrical Impedance

Dietary energy intakeWeek 0, 4,10 and 16

Energy intake of the diet determined from diet diaries

Dietary macro-nutrient intakeWeek 0, 4,10 and 16

Macro-nutrient intake of the diet determined from diet diaries

Meat intakeWeek 0, 4,10 and 16

daily red and processed meat intake determined from diet diaries

Flow-mediated dilatationWeek 0, 4 and 16

Flow mediated dilatation at the brachial artery, measured using ultrasound (in a subset of participants)

Fasting whole blood glucose concentrationWeek 0, 4,10 and 16

Fasting whole blood glucose concentration

Fasting Serum Insulin concentrationWeek 0, 4,10 and 16

Fasting Serum Insulin concentration

Resting, supine blood pressureWeek 0, 4,10 and 16

Resting, supine blood pressure (systolic and diastolic)

Quality of Life QuestionnaireWeek 0, 4,10 and 16

WHOQOL Questionnaire

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

David Greenfield Human Physiology Unit

🇬🇧

Nottingham, Notts, United Kingdom

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