Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet (BOLD) Effects on Metabolic Syndrome

The proposed research will provide important information about the role of 2 intervention
diets that provide different amounts of lean beef and meet current nutrient recommendations
for the treatment of Metabolic Syndrome (MetSyn), a chronic disease that is still increasing
in prevalence at alarming rates. The experimental and diet designs will enable us to
evaluate lifestyle interventions for MetSyn for persons who maintain weight, lose weight and
maintain their weight loss, as is currently recommended in clinical practice. Importantly,
the investigators will compare a diet high in lean beef (5 oz/day) which is compositionally
similar (i.e., energy and nutrients) to the modified-DASH diet, a low beef diet which has
become the Gold Standard for the management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors,
including MetSyn. In addition, the investigators also will evaluate a moderate-high protein
diet (BOLD+) that is higher in total protein (from mixed sources including lean beef,
7oz/day) than the BOLD diet, on CVD risk factors in persons with MetSyn.

Hypotheses:

1. Healthful isocaloric diets that include lean beef as the primary source of protein
(BOLD diet) with average (18%; BOLD) or moderate-high (28%; BOLD+) total protein intake
will show similar or greater reductions in CVD risk, respectively when compared to a
modified-DASH diet.

2. A healthful weight-loss diet, including lean beef as the primary source of protein in a
high-moderate protein diet (BOLD+ diet), plus regular exercise (BOLD+ + ex) will reduce
body weight equal to that of a BOLD + ex and DASH + ex intervention, but may improve CV
risk factors (such as BP and TG), and therefore reduce the prevalence of MetSyn more
than a BOLD + ex and DASH + ex intervention.

3. The BOLD diet will be more effective than the modified-DASH diet, and the BOLD+ diet
more effective than the BOLD diet in maintaining the CVD benefits attained during
phases 1 and 2. Dietary adherence will be better on the BOLD and BOLD + diets compared
with the modified DASH diet.