Cricket- vs beef-derived proteins show diverse effects on appetite, energy intake in men

Acute ingestion of protein derived from beef or insects (cricket) results in varied concentrations of postprandial plasma amino acid, reveals a study. However, it induces similar effects on appetite hormones, appetite sensations, and ad libitum energy intake in young men.

This randomized, double-blind, crossover study included 20 young men (mean age 23 years) who completed two trials. The authors obtained arterialized blood samples and visual analogue scale (VAS) questionnaires at baseline and over 300-min following ingestion of beverages with similar energy and macronutrient content containing 25-g beef- or insect-derived protein.

The authors analysed blood samples for plasma amino acid and appetite hormone concentrations. They also applied VAS questionnaires to evaluate appetite sensations. An ad libitum meal was also provided immediately after each trial to examine energy intake.

Cricket-derived protein showed a higher adjusted mean postprandial incremental area under the curve (iAUC) than those of beef for plasma leucine, branched-chain amino acid, and essential amino acid concentrations (p<0.0001 for all).

On the other hand, adjusted mean postprandial iAUC for hunger was lower after ingestion of beef- than cricket-derived protein (‒3,030 vs ‒1,197; difference, ‒1,833, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], ‒3,358 to ‒308; p=0.02), but was similar for other appetite sensations or hormones (p>0.05 for all).

Finally, adjusted mean ad libitum energy intake was 4,071 kJ for beef-derived protein and 4,408 kJ for cricket-derived protein (difference, ‒336, 95 percent CI, ‒992 to 320; p=0.30).