Protein intake during energy restriction: effects on body composition and markers of metabolic and cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
The primary aim of this study was to assess the effects of dietary protein intake on energy restriction (ER)-induced changes in body mass and body composition. Clinical markers of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases were also measured.


METHODS
54 postmenopausal women, age 58 +/- 2 y, body mass index 29.6 +/- 0.8 kg/m(2), were assigned to one of four groups. For 9 weeks, three ER groups ate a 1000 kcal/d lacto-ovo vegetarian basal diet plus 250 kcal/d of either beef (BEEF, n = 14), chicken (CHICKEN, n = 15), or carbohydrate/fat foods (CARB (lacto-ovo), n = 14), while a control group (CON, n = 11) consumed their habitual diets.


RESULTS
Energy intake was lower in the ER groups compared to CON (BEEF, 1114 +/- 155 kcal/d, CHO: PRO: FAT, 46:24:30 % of energy intake; CHICKEN, 1098 +/- 203 kcal/d, 51:25:24; CARB 1158 +/- 341 kcal/d, 59:17:24; CON, 1570 +/- 633 kcal/d, 47:20:33), but did not differ among ER groups. For all ER subjects combined, body mass (-6.7 +/- 2.4 kg, 9 %), fat mass (-4.6 +/- 1.9 kg, 13 %), and fat-free mass (-2.1 +/- 1.1 kg, 5 %) decreased. These responses did not differ among the ER groups, except for body mass (CHICKEN -7.9 +/- 2.6 kg(a); BEEF -6.6 +/- 2.7 kg(a,b); CARB -5.6 +/- 1.8 kg(b); CON -1.2 +/- 1.2 kg(c); values with a difference superscript differ, p < 0.05). From PRE (week 0) to POST (week 9), total and LDL cholesterol decreased approximately 12%, with no differences among groups. Triacylglycerol, HDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein (CRP), glucose, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin were not changed over time or differentially affected by diet.


CONCLUSIONS
Overweight postmenopausal women can achieve significant weight loss and comparable short-term improvements in body composition and lipid-lipoprotein profile by consuming either a moderate-protein (25% of energy intake) poultry- or beef-containing diet or a lacto-ovo vegetarian protein (17% of energy intake) diet.
Mahon
Anne K
AK
Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2059, USA.
Flynn
Michael G
MG
Stewart
Laura K
LK
McFarlin
Brian K
BK
Iglay
Heidi B
HB
Mattes
Richard D
RD
Lyle
Roseann M
RM
Considine
Robert V
RV
Campbell
Wayne W
WW
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002417:Cattle; D002645:Chickens; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008460:Meat; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D004044:Dietary Proteins