The Effects of Cricket vs. Beef-Derived Protein on Postprandial Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations, Subjective Appetite Sensations, and ad libitum Energy Intake in Young Men

• Main Author: Dai, JiaYing
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2020
• Subjects: Amino acids; Appetite; Binding sites; Carbohydrates; Diet; Energy; Food; Gender studies; Hypothalamus; Insulin; Kinesiology; Men; Metabolism; Nutrition; Protein synthesis; Proteins; Thermogenesis; Young adults
• ISBN: 9798708711779

Background: Dietary protein provides the body with a source of amino acids and plays a key role in regulating appetite, satiety, and subsequent food intake. Sources of dietary protein differ in their amino acid content and digestibility and may therefore have different effects on appetite regulation. Animal-derived proteins such as beef are generally considered high quality sources of protein; however, the production of sufficient amounts of conventional animal-based protein to meet future global food demands represents a challenge. Edible insects such as crickets (Acheta domesticus) may represent a novel alternative source of dietary protein that may assist in meeting future global protein demands. However, the ability of insect-derived protein to stimulate postprandial hyperaminoacidemia and regulate appetite, satiety, and subsequent food intake compared to conventional animal-derived proteins has not been investigated.Objectives: To examine the acute effects of consuming isocaloric, macronutrient, and volume-matched beverages containing either 25 g of cricket or beef-derived protein on postprandial plasma glucose, insulin, and amino acid concentrations, subjective appetite sensations, and ad libitum energy intake in healthy young men.Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, within-subject crossover study, 20 young men (age: 23 ± 1 y; BMI: 23.0 ± 0.6 kg/m2 [mean ± SEM]) consumed beverages containing 25 g protein derived from crickets or beef. Participants completed two separate 300-min experimental test days involving the ingestion of the respective protein beverage along with repeated blood sampling and questionnaires. Blood sampling and questionnaires were taken at baseline before beverage intake, and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 240, and 300 min after beverage intake to assess plasma glucose, insulin, and amino acid concentrations, and perceived appetite sensations. An ad libitum meal was provided at the end of each experimental visit to assess energy intake.Results: Net incremental area under the curve (niAUC) over the entire 300-min postprandial period was greater for cricket compared to beef-derived protein for plasma leucine (P = 0.001), branched chain amino acid (BCAA: P < 0.001), and essential amino acid (EAA: P < 0.001) concentrations. Over the same time period, niAUC for plasma non-essential amino acid and total amino acids was greater (NEAA: P < 0.001; TAA: P = 0.012) for beef compared to cricket protein. Postprandial niAUC for perceived sensations of hunger was lower following beef compared to cricket protein (P = 0.042), but was not different between protein sources for fullness, desire to eat, or prospective food consumption (all P > 0.05). Participants consumed an average of 4466 ± 283 and 4153 ± 264 kJ during the ad libitum lunch meals 300-min following the ingestion of cricket and beef protein respectively, with no difference between protein sources (P = 0.277).Conclusion: Postprandial plasma aminoacidemia differs following the ingestion of 25 g cricket vs. beef-derived protein beverages, with a greater niAUC for EAA following the ingestion of cricket protein. VAS-derived niAUC sensations of hunger were lower with beef compared to cricket protein; however, all other appetite sensations as well as ad libitum food energy intake were similar between protein sources. Cricket protein may represent a novel alternative source of dietary protein when developing higher-protein meals to support appetite regulation.