The anabolic response to a ground beef patty and soy-based meat alternative: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Soy-based meat alternatives (SBMA) are becoming increasingly popular, but it is unclear if they have the same anabolic effect on skeletal muscle as animal meat.

Objectives: We aimed to compare the stimulation of skeletal muscle protein synthesis by consumption of 1 or two 4 oz patties of SBMA with 4 oz (80% protein/20% fat) beef.

Methods: The study design was a randomized controlled trial. Participants were aged 18-40 y of age and in good general health with a body mass index (kg/m²) between 20 and 32. Stable isotope tracer methods were used (L-[ring-²H₅] phenylalanine, [U-¹³C₉-¹⁵N]- tyrosine, and L-[ring-²H₄] tyrosine) to quantify the response of muscle protein fractional synthetic rate (FSR) to consumption of a single beef (4 oz), single SBMA (4 oz), or two 4 oz SBMA patties (8 oz). Whole-body rates of protein synthesis, breakdown, and net balance, as well as plasma essential amino acid concentrations, were also measured.

Results: The increase above basal in muscle protein FSR following consumption of the 4 oz beef patty (0.020 ± 0.016%/h) was significantly greater than the increase following consumption of 4 oz SBMA (P = 0.021; 0.003 ± 0.010%/h) but not 8 oz SBMA (P = 0.454; 0.013 ± 0.016%/h). The maximal essential amino acid concentration was significantly correlated (P = 0.046; r = 0.411) with the change in muscle FSR from the basal to the postprandial period. In addition, the change in muscle FSR from the basal to postprandial period was significantly correlated (P = 0.046; r = 0.412) with the corresponding change in whole-body protein synthesis.

Conclusions: Consumption of a 4 oz beef patty stimulates muscle and whole-body protein synthesis >4 oz SBMA patty and similarly to 8 oz of SBMA. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05197140.