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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Jan 14;133(1):126-135.
doi: 10.1017/S0007114524003015. Epub 2024 Nov 26.

No effects of high- v. low-protein breakfast on body composition and cardiometabolic health in young women with overweight: the NewStart randomised trial

Line Barner Dalgaard  1   2 , Line Thams  1 , Jon Skovgaard Jensen  3   4 , Astrid Ank Jørgensen  1 , Andreas Breenfeldt Andersen  1 , Kasper Degn Gejl  5 , Hanne Christine Bertram  6 , Mette Hansen  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

No effects of high- v. low-protein breakfast on body composition and cardiometabolic health in young women with overweight: the NewStart randomised trial

Line Barner Dalgaard et al. Br J Nutr. .

Abstract

The aim of this randomised controlled trial was to investigate the effects of breakfast high or low in protein on body composition and cardiometabolic markers in young women with overweight. In total, fifty-six women aged 18-30 years consumed a breakfast containing either high protein (34 g protein, n 26) or low protein (6 g protein, n 30) for 12 weeks. Measurements of body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, waist circumference, glucose tolerance, fasting glucose, insulin and lipid profile were performed before and after this period. The primary outcome was fat mass. Satiety and hunger were evaluated by self-reported Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores. Dietary intake was estimated by 4-d dietary records, and calcium intake was estimated by FFQ. At baseline, relative daily protein intake was 15·2 ± 2·8 E%, which increased to 19·3 ± 3·4 E% in high protein but was unchanged in low protein (P < 0·001 between groups). High protein reported higher satiety compared with low protein (P = 0·02). Yet, no group differences were observed in changes in energy intake, body composition, blood lipid profile or measures of glucose tolerance (all P > 0·10). However, bone mineral content tended to increase in high protein (P = 0·05) and decrease in low protein (P = 0·07, interaction effect: P = 0·01). Conclusively, a high v. low content of protein in breakfast increased satiety but did not affect body composition or cardiometabolic markers in young women with overweight. This study adds to the sparse evidence on the effects of breakfast with different macronutrient compositions on health parameters in women with overweight. Registered at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04518605.

Keywords: Dairy; Diet intervention; Fat mass; Obesity; Satiety.

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Conflict of interest statement

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no declaration of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flow chart. Complete cases refer to participants with both baseline and endpoint measurements. HP, high protein; LP, low protein.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Mean (sem) changes in fat mass (a), lean mass (b), weight (c) and waist circumference (d) in the HP and LP group, as well as P-values for between-group differences. HP, high protein; LP, low protein; WC, waist circumference.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Individual changes in fat mass in the HP and LP group. HP, high protein; LP, low protein.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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