Assessing the Influence of Habitual Beef Intake on Key Molecular Markers of Brain Health
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 招募中
- 入组人数
- 20
- 试验地点
- 1
研究概览
简要总结
his study investigates whether eating lean beef every day can help support brain health and healthy aging in older adults. As people age, protecting memory and cognitive function becomes increasingly important. Lean beef is a rich source of essential nutrients-such as vitamin B12, iron, zinc, and creatine-that are known to support brain function. However, the direct biological effects of a beef-rich diet on brain health markers are not fully understood.
In this study, researchers will recruit 20 generally healthy older adults (aged 65 and older) to participate in a dietary feeding trial. Participants will complete two separate 2-week dietary phases. During one phase, participants will consume 5.5 ounces (156 grams) of provided lean beef daily. During the other phase, they will consume an iso-caloric, protein-matched, non-beef control food daily. A two-week "washout" period, where participants return to their normal diets, will separate the two phases to ensure there are no overlapping effects.
Researchers will collect blood, urine, stool, and saliva samples at the beginning and end of each 2-week dietary phase. These samples will be analyzed to see if the lean beef diet improves specific biological markers in the blood related to memory, nerve protection, and overall brain aging. Ultimately, the findings from this study will help determine if incorporating lean beef into a regular diet can be a natural, food-based strategy to help preserve neurological health in older adults.
详细描述
Background and Rationale:
Cognitive decline and related dementias represent a growing public health crisis. While age and genetics are immutable risks, diet is a key modifiable factor for prevention and resilience. Lean beef provides a unique nutrient matrix-including vitamin B12, heme iron, zinc, selenium, creatine, and choline-that may support multiple aspects of brain structure and function. Recent advances in blood-based biomarkers now allow for the sensitive detection of neuropathological processes and neuroplasticity in response to lifestyle interventions. This project seeks to move beyond observational data to uncover the biological mechanisms that confer brain health by assessing the direct molecular impact of a dietary beef intervention.
Study Objectives:
The overarching goal of this study is to determine the impact of regular lean beef consumption on the molecular profile of brain health in healthy older adults. The primary aim is to quantify the within-person change in plasma phosphorylated tau-217 (p-tau217) following a 2-week lean beef intervention compared to a matched non-beef control. Secondary and exploratory aims include measuring within-person changes in the amyloid-beta 42/40 ratio (Aβ42/40) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), characterizing global shifts in the plasma lipidome, and exploring mechanisms of action via nutrient biomarkers.
Study Design:
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Crossover
- 主要目的
- Basic Science
- 盲法
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
盲法说明
Due to the use of whole-food dietary interventions (lean beef vs. non-beef control), it is not possible to blind the participants or the investigators administering the diets. However, all biological specimens (blood, urine, stool, saliva) will be de-identified and coded. The outcomes assessors (laboratory personnel conducting the targeted biomarker assays and untargeted lipidomics) will remain blinded to the intervention sequence and treatment assignments during analysis.
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 65 Years 至 —（Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •Adults aged 65 years and older.
- •Generally healthy with no acute illnesses.
- •Fluent in English.
- •Willing to consume lean beef and dairy products (cottage cheese and whey protein) daily during the intervention phases.
- •Willing to maintain current, habitual diet, physical activity levels, and body weight throughout the study.
- •Willing to fast for 12 hours prior to clinical visits and provide blood, urine, stool, and saliva samples.
排除标准
- •Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or other severe cognitive disorders.
- •History of gastrointestinal diseases (e.g., Crohn's disease, celiac disease) or major gastrointestinal surgery.
- •Uncontrolled diabetes, severe liver or kidney disease, or a recent cardiovascular event (within the past 6 months).
- •Allergies or severe intolerances to beef or dairy, or adherence to a strict vegetarian or vegan diet.
- •Body weight fluctuation of >5% within the past 3 months.
- •Use of systemic antibiotics within the 2 months prior to baseline.
- •Current heavy smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.
研究者
Samitinjaya Dhakal
Assistant Professor
South Dakota State University