Plant-based Diet in Older People: What Consequences for Muscle Health?

Sponsor
University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand
Study ID
NCT07681986
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Aging

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
65 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Plant-enriched dietary intervention — OTHER
    Participants follow a diet enriched in plant-based foods with approximately 70% of protein from plant sources and 30% from animal sources for 3 months, with tailored dietary guidance, meal planning support, and compliance monitored through food diaries and periodic follow-up.
  • Control diet — OTHER
    Participants follow a standard diet with approximately 70% of protein from animal sources and 30% from plant sources for 3 months, with general nutritional guidance and compliance monitored through food diaries and periodic consultations.

Study Details

This randomized, controlled, two-arm clinical study aims to determine how increasing the proportion of plant-based foods in the diet affects skeletal muscle strength, mass and function, protein metabolism, microbiota and key metabolic markers in healthy older men and women. We hypothesize that diets enriched with animal-based foods will maintain maximal quadriceps strength-the primary outcome of the study-more effectively after the 3-month nutritional intervention than plant-based diets. Proteomic analyses will be performed to identify molecular mechanisms and potential muscle biomarkers reflecting metabolic adaptations of skeletal muscle to plant-enriched diets. In addition, metabolic health markers and micronutrient status will be evaluated to better understand the overall health effects of dietary plant-based transition in older adults.

Key Dates

First listed
Jul 2, 2026
Start date
Jul 20, 2026
Status verified
May 2026
Primary completion
Aug 31, 2029
Completion
Aug 31, 2030

Study Design

Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION

Arms

  • Active Comparator: Control diet group
    Participants follow a standard diet for older adults with approximately 70% of protein from animal sources and 30% from plant sources. Nutritional guidance and follow-up are provided throughout the 3-month study period. Participants maintain their usual eating habits within these proportions, and dietary compliance is monitored through food diaries and regular consultations with the study team.
  • Experimental: Plant-enriched diet group
    Participants follow a diet enriched in plant-based foods, with approximately 70% of protein from plant sources and 30% from animal sources, while maintaining adequate total protein intake. Participants receive tailored dietary guidance and support from the study team over 3 months, including meal planning and regular follow-up. Dietary compliance is assessed using food diaries, recalls, and periodic monitoring by the study team.

Primary Outcome Measure

Maximal Quadriceps Strength [ Time Frame: Baseline and Month 3 ]

Central Contacts

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