Abstract
Background/Objectives
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of ingesting beef- and insect-derived protein on postprandial plasma amino acid and appetite hormone concentrations, appetite sensations, and ad libitum energy intake.
Subjects/Methods
In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, 20 young men (23 (SD: 4) y) completed two trials during which arterialized blood samples and VAS questionnaires were collected at baseline, and over 300-min after ingestion of beverages with similar energy and macronutrient content containing 25 g beef- or insect-derived (cricket) protein. Blood samples were analyzed for plasma amino acid and appetite hormone concentrations, while VAS questionnaires were applied to assess appetite sensations. After each trial, an ad libitum meal was immediately provided to assess energy intake.
Results
Adjusted mean postprandial incremental area under the curve (iAUC) was greater for cricket vs. beef-derived protein for plasma leucine, branched-chain amino acid, and essential amino acid concentrations (all P < 0.0001). Adjusted mean postprandial iAUC for hunger was lower following beef (−3030 (SE: 860)) vs. cricket-derived (−1197 (SE: 525)) protein (Difference: −1833 (95% CI: −3358, −308); P = 0.02), but was not different for other appetite sensations or appetite hormones (all P > 0.05). Adjusted mean ad libitum energy intake was 4072 (SE: 292) and 4408 (SE: 316) kJ following beef- and cricket-derived protein (Difference: −336 (95% CI: −992, 320); P = 0.30).
Conclusion
Acute ingestion of cricket and beef-derived protein leads to differences in postprandial plasma amino acid concentrations, but elicits similar effects on appetite hormones, appetite sensations, and ad libitum energy intake in young men.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank Professor Ross Andersen for providing access to some of the equipment used in this study and Dr. Tom Hazell from Wilfrid Laurier University for helpful discussion during the initial stages of this project. The authors also thank Dr. José Correa from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at McGill University for providing statistical consulting.
Author contributions
JD, TAC-V: designed the research; JD, JL, PWM-A, AG, TAC-V: conducted the research; JD, JL, AG, TAC-V: analyzed the data; TAC-V: performed the statistical analysis; JD, JL, TAC-V: wrote the paper; JD, TAC-V: hold primary responsibility for the final content; all authors: read and approved the final manuscript.
Funding
TAC-V was supported by a Discovery Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
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The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the Faculty of Medicine Institutional Review Board at McGill University on human experimentation and in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 as revised in October 2013. The study was approved by the Faculty of Medicine Institutional Review Board at McGill University on October 31, 2018 (Study Number: A08-M28-18B).
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Dai, J., Lov, J., Martin-Arrowsmith, P.W. et al. The acute effects of insect vs. beef-derived protein on postprandial plasma aminoacidemia, appetite hormones, appetite sensations, and energy intake in healthy young men. Eur J Clin Nutr 76, 1548–1556 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-022-01157-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-022-01157-8