(P22-046-25) Body Composition Changes in Response to a Dietary Guidelines for Americans Diet in Older Adults: Preliminary Results From an Ongoing Randomized-Controlled Diet Intervention
Assistant Professor Indiana University Bloomington bloomington, Indiana, United States
Objectives: To compare body composition changes in response to a Dietary Guidelines for Americans-style (DGA) dietary pattern containing beef and vegetable protein in older adults.
Methods: This is an ongoing 16-week randomized-controlled, cross-over intervention investigating the impact of a 1800 calorie DGA-style diet that includes 7oz of beef (beef-DGA) or 7oz of vegetable protein (veg-protein-DGA; i.e. ImpossibleTM and BeyondTM products) on body composition measures in adults aged 60-85 years. Participants are randomized to consume either beef-DGA or veg-protein-DGA for 8 weeks. After a 2-week break, participants who consumed beef-DGA cross over to consume veg-protein-DGA for 8 weeks and participants who consumed veg-protein-DGA cross-over and consume beef-DGA for 8 weeks. Body composition measures via DEXA (GETM HealthCare) are obtained 5 times throughout the 16-week intervention.
Results: Preliminary results from 16 participants who completed the intervention (10 females, 6 males, mean age = 68 years (SD=6)) show that age was significantly associated with fat mass (p=0.019), %body fat (p=0.027), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT; p=0.014), where older adults had significantly higher values. Sex was significantly associated with VAT (p=0.005), where males had significantly higher values compared to females. Protein-type was significantly associated with lean mass (p≤0.001) and resting metabolic rate (RMR; p≤0.001). In response to the intervention, at 8 weeks the veg protein-DGA group lost significantly more [-1.41lbs, 95% CI: (-2.92, 0.10)] lean mass compared to the beef-DGA group [-0.24 lbs, 95% CI: (-1.75, 1.27)], (p= 0.019). At 8 weeks the veg protein-DGA group [-12.47 cal/day, 95% CI: (-26.01, 1.07)] had a greater reduction in RMR compared to the beef-DGA group [-2.35 cal/day, 95% CI: (-15.89, 11.19)], (p=0.020). For all other body composition variables, there were no statistically significant differences.
Conclusions: These preliminary results from 16 participants suggest that beef as a part of a 1800 calorie DGA-style diet may result in better maintenance of lean mass and RMR in older adults compared to vegetable protein. Albeit this is an ongoing intervention, and completion may result in differing outcomes.
