Testing the Effect of a Plant-based, Protein-dense Sauce (ProSauce) on Metabolic Availability of Essential Amino Acids and Gut Fullness and Satiety in Older Adults
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether meals fortified with plant-based high protein sauce (ProSauce) provide better metabolic availability of essential amino acids compared to meals with standard lower-protein sauce without resulting in excessive gut fullness and satiety. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does meals with high-protein sauce deliver better metabolic availability of amino acid profile? Does this high-protein sauce also not lead to excessive appetite suppression due to its liquid form? Researchers will compare high protein sauce to a commercially available standard low protein sauce. Participants will consume two meals, either protein-fortified or standard low-protein sauce, in a randomised order with at least a one-week washout period between each meal. The investigators will collect venous blood samples over a 6-hour postprandial period to measure plasma essential (and non-essential) amino acid and insulin concentrations. The investigators will also measure appetite-related hormones from venous plasma and assess subjective appetite using a visual analogue scale, taken in parallel with the blood sample time points.
• Aged 60 and over
• Living independently in the community
• Capacity to provide informed consent
• Non-smoking (vaping is considered smoking)
• No known medical conditions that might influence the study outcomes, e.g., heart disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity, disthyroidism and other endocrinopathies and renal failure
• Not taking any medications that might influence the study outcomes e.g., taking anabolic steroids or corticosteroids long term
• No clinically diagnosed eating disorders
• No severe dislike or allergy to any of the study food
• No hospitalisations in the last 6 months
• Not dieting and weight stable for 3 months before the study (\< 3 kg change in weight)