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Insect vs Animal Protein for Building Muscle

NCT07159919 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 34

Last updated 2026-04-29

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This research is being carried out to investigate the potential of insects (crickets) as a sustainable protein source for supporting human muscle tissue by comparing cricket protein to a commonly used animal protein (whey). Insects have been used as protein source for many years in East-Asian and African cultures. More recently the interest in this potential protein source has been growing in Western countries due to the negative environmental impact of producing animal foods and the increased awareness of animal welfare issues in the food chain. Insects are a more sustainable protein source, requiring less land, water and feed, and producing less carbon emissions (greenhouse gases) compared to farming livestock (e.g. cows, pigs, chickens etc.) However, up until now there is no clear evidence that insect-derived protein has the same nutritional properties as animal-derived protein. Recent data from our research group indicates that there appears to be no difference in the digestibility of an insect protein compared to a traditional animal protein amongst younger, middle-aged and older adults. The investigators now want to explore the potential of insect protein to increase muscle mass and strength.

Conditions

  • Cricket Protein
  • Whey Protein

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

protein supplement

Cricket protein incorporated into a whole-food source (dough balls) to be consumed once after an acute bout of resistance exercise and then consumed daily for 12 weeks alongside regular resistance training.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

protein supplement

Whey protein incorporated into a whole-food source (dough balls) to be consumed once after an acute bout of resistance exercise and then consumed daily for 12 weeks alongside regular resistance training.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Aberystwyth University

    collaborator OTHER

  • University of Surrey

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Ralph Manders, PhD · University of Surrey

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-11-29
Primary Completion
2027-01-31
Completion
2027-01-31

Countries

  • United Kingdom

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07159919 on ClinicalTrials.gov