Clinical Evidence Library
Living, peer-reviewed evidence base maintained by Eliana Witchell, MSc, RD, CDE. Atomic claims graded and cited, organized across seven clinical domains. The canonical source for every evidence-backed claim on this site.
5 published entries across 7 clinical domains.
Mechanism & Pharmacology
0 entriesNo published entries yet.
Clinical Efficacy
0 entriesNo published entries yet.
Safety & Tolerability
1 entryNutrition Science
3 entries- Grade B
Per-meal protein threshold for muscle protein synthesis: the 30 g / leucine-trigger rule
Muscle protein synthesis (MPS) follows a threshold, not a linear dose-response: below roughly 2.5–3 g of leucine per meal (~30 g of high-quality protein), MPS is sub-maximally stimulated. Total daily protein is necessary but insufficient — distribution across meals determines how much of that protein actually builds and preserves lean mass.
Last reviewed:
- Grade A
Why the 0.8 g/kg protein RDA systematically underestimates true requirements
The current US protein RDA of 0.8 g/kg/day was derived from short-term nitrogen-balance studies that systematically undercount nitrogen losses and target deficiency prevention, not physiological optimization. Modern tracer methods (IAAO and stable-isotope techniques) consistently yield protein requirements 25–50% higher than nitrogen-balance estimates, placing the true minimum closer to 1.0–1.2 g/kg for sedentary adults and higher for active or aging populations.
Last reviewed:
- Grade B
Daily protein target of 1.6 g/kg ideal body weight for patients on GLP-1 medications
Patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists benefit from 1.2–1.6 g of protein per kg of ideal body weight per day, distributed across at least two meals containing ≥30 g each. This target sits well above the 0.8 g/kg RDA, reflects the anabolic demand of a sustained caloric deficit, and is supported by converging meta-analysis, position-stand, and clinical-trial evidence.
Last reviewed:
Special Populations
1 entryNo published entries yet.
Emerging Agents
0 entriesNo published entries yet.