Funded in part by National Pork Board, Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education, Foundation for Meat & Poultry Research & Education
Effects of Minimally Processed Red Meat within a Plant-Forward Diet on Biomarkers of Physical and Cognitive Aging: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Feeding Trial
Vaezi S, de Vargas BO, Weidauer L, Freeling JL, Dey M
Current developments in nutrition · 2 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
- Intake measured by
- Food provided by researchers
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Industry funded
- Government
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- University or hospital
- South Dakota State University
- Industry group
- National Pork Board
- University or hospital
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan
- Industry group
- Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education
- Nonprofit
- Meath Foundation
- Government
- National Institutes of Health
- Government
- National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- University or hospital
- University of California, Davis
- University or hospital
- West Coast Metabolomics Center, University of California, Davis
- Industry group
- Foundation for Meat & Poultry Research & Education
- Grants
- National Institute of Food and Agriculture (AH831-25); Meath Foundation (3X4166/SA2400166); National Institutes of Health (U2C ES030158); National Institutes of Health (ES030158); National Institutes of Health (NIH U2C ES030158)
Based on 11 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2025-12-11 · Curr Dev Nutr · vol. 10 · issue 1 · p. 107615
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Cited
- 3 citations · more than 89% of similar papers · 2.3× the field average
- References
- 61 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Organic Food and Agriculture
- Keywords
- Red meat, Crossover study, Processed meat, Randomized controlled trial, Cognition, Perception, Meat packing industry
5 authors
From US
- Saba VaeziSouth Dakota State University
- Bruna O de VargasSouth Dakota State University
- Lee WeidauerSouth Dakota State University
- Jessica FreelingUniversity of South Dakota
- Moul Dey · correspondingSouth Dakota State University
Abstract
Background
Popular dietary patterns for cardiovascular and cognitive health often emphasize limiting red meat intake. However, evidence specifically examining the effects of minimally processed lean red meat, independent of processed varieties, remains limited.
Objectives
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of incorporating minimally processed lean red meat into a plant-forward dietary pattern aligned with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans on markers of age-related cognitive, metabolic, and physical health.
Methods
This 18-wk randomized controlled crossover feeding trial tested a red meat diet with 162 g/d minimally processed pork (MPP) against a macronutrient- and energy-matched no-meat control diet with minimally processed lentils (MPL) in ≥65 y older adults. Metabolic biomarkers related to cognitive and physical health were explored. Primary and secondary endpoints comprised 5 cardiovascular markers, 12 nutritional and neurotransmitter measures, and 2 metrics each of body composition and muscular fitness. Data were analyzed with robust mixed-effects models adjusted for covariates.
Results
Thirty-six Midwestern older adults (26/10 females/males; mean age 71.7 y; mean body mass index: 28 kg/m2) completed the study. Cognitive-related metabolic biomarkers improved across both arms. Adoption of the plant-forward diet led to a reduction in fasting insulin after both MPP and MPL phases (P P = 0.032), with no significant between-diet differences. High-density lipoprotein concentrations were higher post-MPP than post-MPL (P = 0.034). Body weight decreased in both phases (P < 0.05), with a trend toward smaller lean mass loss post-MPP. Grip strength and chair-rise performance were maintained throughout the intervention. Neuroactive metabolites and bioactive amino acid concentrations shifted favorably after both interventions.
Conclusions
Findings challenge the perception that red meat is broadly unsuitable for older adults. Including familiar foods like red meat (pork), particularly in minimally processed form and within a healthy overall dietary pattern, may provide age-associated health benefits and improve adherence to plant-forward diets in populations where red meat remains popular.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05581953 (12 October, 2022) and NCT06261775 (7 February, 2024).
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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