Can a Plant-Based protein switch reshape your metabolism?

NCT ID NCT04236518

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 07, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026

Summary

This trial investigates how replacing animal proteins with plant proteins in the diet influences metabolism. Adults with early signs of metabolic syndrome (like high triglycerides or slightly elevated blood pressure) will follow a controlled diet for four weeks, either predominantly animal or plant protein. At the end, they'll consume a high-fat, high-sugar meal, and blood and urine samples will be analyzed to see how their bodies respond. The goal is to understand the metabolic changes that might come from eating more plant-based proteins.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Controlled diets with predominantly animal or plant protein sources
What this could lead to: If successful, this could help explain how shifting from animal to plant proteins affects metabolism, potentially guiding dietary advice for people at risk of metabolic syndrome.
What could go wrong: This is a small, exploratory study (53 participants) that measures metabolic markers, not long-term health outcomes. Results may not apply to everyone, and the diets are highly controlled, which may not reflect real-world eating habits.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

53 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Aug 2020

Finished

Aug 2022

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

25 to 55 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * BMI between 25 and 35 kh/m² (terminals included) * Waist circumference ≥ 94 cm for men and ≥80 cm for women * at the choice, one of the following criteria: Triglyceridemia \> 1.49g/L, fasting blood glucose≥ 5.6 mmol/L , a HDL cholesterol \<1.03mmol/L for men or \<1.29 mmol/L for women , systolic blood pressure≥ 130 mmHg or diastolic≥ 85 mmHg . Exclusion Criteria: * Systolic blood pressure \> 150mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \> 90mmHg * pathology and medical treatment * diabetes * Smoking \> 4 cigarettes /day * Alcohol consumption \> 2 glasses/day * Antibiotics taken during the last 3 months before the clinical trial * Specific diets

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

abdominal obesity-metabolic syndrome hyperglycemia hypertriglyceridemia metabolic syndrome X

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Fasting blood sugar above normal Hypertriglyceridemia Lower than standard HDL-cholesterol level Metabolic syndrome Slightly elevated blood pressure

Can a Plant-Based protein switch reshape your metabolism?

What the study statuses mean