Effect of Dietary Protein Intake on Diet-Induced Thermogenesis During Overfeeding
Elizabeth Frost, Leanne Redman, George Bray
The Obesity Society
Abstract
Background: High protein diets for weight loss are popular and data suggests protein-mediated effects on satiety and thermogenesis may be potential mechanisms. This study determined if a prolonged change in dietary protein intake during overfeeding can modify the thermogenic response to a standard meal.
Methods: Sixteen healthy individuals were randomized to overfeeding diets containing low (5% energy, n=6), normal (15% energy, n=5), or high (25% energy, n=5) protein for 8 weeks while living on a metabolic ward. Diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) was measured over 4 hours by indirect calorimetry following a standard meal (40% of energy, 15% protein) or a breakfast meal specific to the study diet measured by a portable metabolic cart or in a whole room calorimeter, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) for energy expenditure (EE) and substrate oxidation and DIT as percent of total EE were calculated.
Results: As expected, the AUC for EE following the overfeeding breakfast specific to each study group was significantly associated with grams of protein (r2=0.32, P=0.02) with the AUC EE significantly increased in the high protein diet versus the low protein diet (HP: 178578, LP: 77278, kcal, P=0.05). However, DIT in response to a standard meal with the 15% protein was not associated with prolonged exposure to high energy intake (r2=0.12, P=0.16).
Conclusions: DIT is related to dietary protein but prolonged exposure to high energy diets does not alter the thermogenic response to a standard meal suggesting the DIT is likely under acute regulation and not involved in adaptive thermogenesis.