A new focus on protein and the gut microbiota to explain health benefits of dairy foods

Project Overview

The consumption of an adequate quantity of protein in the diet is essential to maintain a healthy body composition and functioning. It is also well established that all proteins are not equal regarding their ability to promote health benefits. In previous study, the researcher team has shown that under the context of high intake of dietary fat, the dairy protein casein was more effective than a mix of proteins representative of a western diet to prevent body weight gain and insulin resistance. This was explained in part by modifications of the gut microbiota. 

The overall objective of this project is to determine the impact of dairy protein from milk and yogurt
compared to their plant-based alternatives on body composition including muscle mass and bone mineral density, in connection with changes in the gut microbiota.

What Will the Research Team Do?

This project will involve a human and an animal study. The human study will be a randomized controlled study consisting of a weight loss intervention in postmenopausal overweight women assigned to one of the four following groups: milk, yogurt, pea-based alternative to milk, pea-based alternative to yogurt. 

The animal study will help to validate the findings in humans via the role of gut microbiota. It is anticipated that these two complementary approaches will allow a more thorough assessment of the impact of dairy protein on body composition as well as a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms. 

The specific objectives of the project are to: 

1. Evaluate the impact of dairy protein on gut microbiota composition and function, as well as on clinical biomarkers of muscle and bone health.
2. Assess metabolic health and eating behaviors. 
3. Determine the role of gut microbiota.