Assessing the Influence of Habitual Beef Intake on Key Molecular Markers of Brain Health

Part of paid clinical trials in Brookings, South Dakota.

Sponsor
South Dakota State University
Study ID
NCT07623785
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Brain Health
  • Cardiometabolic Health
  • Cognitive Decline Prevention in Robust Older Adults
  • Healthy Aging
  • Normal Aging

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
65 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Lean Beef — OTHER
    Participants will be provided with and instructed to consume 156 grams (5.5 ounces) of cooked lean beef daily for 14 days.
  • Non-Beef Control — OTHER
    Participants will be provided with and instructed to consume an iso-caloric, macronutrient- and protein-matched non-beef control consisting of a mixture of cottage cheese and whey protein daily for 14 days.

Study Details

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.

Key Dates

Start date
Jun 3, 2026
Status verified
May 2026
Primary completion
Aug 30, 2026
Completion
Jul 31, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
20 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Experimental: Lean Beef Intervention
    Participants will consume 156 grams (5.5 ounces) of provided lean beef daily for a 14-day period. Participants will be instructed to maintain their habitual dietary patterns otherwise, but will replace a portion of their standard daily protein intake with the study-provided lean beef.
  • Active Comparator: Non-Beef Control
    Participants will consume a provided iso-caloric, protein-matched, non-beef control food daily for a 14-day period. Participants will be instructed to maintain their habitual dietary patterns otherwise, but will replace a portion of their standard daily protein intake with the study-provided control food.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in Plasma Phosphorylated Tau-217 (p-tau217) Concentration [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0) and End of Intervention (Day 14) for each of the two dietary phases. ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIP
South Dakota State UniversityBrookingsSouth Dakota57007

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By research site
South Dakota State University· Brookings, SD

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