- As plant-based meat substitutes gain popularity, researchers in Singapore conducted a study comparing their health effects with conventional meats, with a specific focus on heart health and diabetes risk.
- The study, which included 89 adults at risk for type 2 diabetes, found that plant-based meat diets did not provide significant benefits to heart health compared to diets that also included animal meat; challenges the idea that these alternatives offer the same health benefits as whole plant-based diets.
- Highlighting the nutritional differences between plant-based meat analogs and animal meats, the findings suggest that the food industry must develop nutrient-enriched and environmentally sustainable plant-based meat substitutes.
Published in new research American Journal of Clinical NutritionScientists examined how diets containing real meat compared to diets using plant-based meat alternatives, particularly in terms of cardiovascular health and diabetes risk.
Diets rich in plant-based foods have been found to be beneficial for heart and metabolic health thanks to a wide range of health-promoting components such as vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.
But for those who regularly eat meat, transitioning to such diets can be challenging due to deep-seated cultural, historical, and social influences on meat consumption, as well as socioeconomic factors.
Plant-based meat analogues (PBMAs) are designed to mimic the taste and texture of real meat using sustainable ingredients and are becoming increasingly popular around the world.
This new research focused on comparing the effects of diets based on plant-based meat analogues (PBMAs) and traditional animal-based meats (ABMs) on the heart health of Singaporeans who are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
The question was whether replacing animal meat with PBMAs would improve heart health and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
In this 8-week study of 89 participants, half were asked to eat PBMA and the other half were asked to eat animal meat. Researchers looked at levels of bad cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure, among other health indicators.
The findings showed no significant changes in cholesterol profiles for either diet, but both diets were linked to improvements in some blood sugar markers.
There was no clear advantage of one diet over another in improving heart health. But in a smaller group that monitored blood sugar closely, those who ate animal meat appeared to control their blood sugar levels better.
Improvements in blood pressure were also noted in the animal meat group, but not in the PBMA group.
This suggests that the benefits often associated with plant-based diets may not directly apply to PBMAs, as they differ nutritionally from whole plant foods and their effects on heart health.
Nutritional analysis showed that the animal meat diet provided more protein, while PBMAs were higher in sodium, potassium and calcium.
The better blood sugar control seen in the animal meat group may be due to lower carbohydrate and higher protein intake.
Although the study did not examine protein absorption, other research suggests that proteins from PBMAs may not be as easily absorbed as those from animal meats, which may affect insulin and gut hormone responses differently.
Although PBMAs are becoming a more popular protein choice, this study’s findings do not support the idea that these diets provide better benefits for heart and metabolic health than diets containing animal meats.
It appears that adding PBMAs to one’s diet may alter food intake in ways that may negatively affect blood sugar control.
This suggests that the health advantages typically associated with plant-based diets should not be assumed to apply to PBMAs, given their different nutritional profiles and effects on cardiac and metabolic health.
These findings highlight the opportunity for the food industry to invest in creating new PBMAs that not only focus on mimicking the taste and texture of meat, but are also nutritionally superior and more easily absorbed by the body.
By shifting some of the focus to improving the nutritional value and environmental sustainability of PBMAs, both producers and consumers will benefit.
Two experts who were not involved in this research spoke. Today’s Medical News.
“According to this study, a dietary intervention with plant-based meat analogs did not show significant benefits for cardiometabolic health over 8 weeks compared to omnivorous diets,” said Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian and founder of Dietitian Insights.
“While this result may be unexpected for some, it is not surprising that no benefits were seen when comparing the unhealthy ultra-processed type of food with animal-based foods,” he said.
This is likely because “plant-based meat analogs fall into the less healthy plant-based diet index category, which likely do not improve cardiometabolic health and may instead be less healthy.”
“Beyond the limited time and small sample size, one of the major problems with this study’s methodology was that the plant-based meat alternatives selected for this study were reportedly high in sodium and contained reheated seed oils,” he added.
“So, despite extensive enrichment of essential nutrients such as vitamins B12 and D, iron and zinc,
cardiometabolic effects sodium and potentialoxidative stress The consequences from consuming reheated oils may outweigh the potential benefits of these particular plant-based meat analogs used in this study.While there are potentially healthier plant-based meat alternatives available on the market than those used in this study, consumers should keep in mind that these alternatives are often still heavily processed foods and should not be relied upon as the main source of protein in a healthy diet. diet.”
– Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN
“Conversely, diets rich in minimal plant-based foods, including whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables, and their bioactive compounds, have been repeatedly associated with better cardiometabolic health outcomes and reduced risk of death from any cause.” Costa pointed out.
Haley Bishoff, RDN, LD, owner of Rūtsu Nutrition in Las Vegas, said: “Developing a better understanding of plant-based meat alternatives and their health effects should be further investigated, especially for those at increased risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease.” .” or diabetes.”
“As a registered dietitian, I encourage some plant-based meat alternatives and overall minimal consumption of processed foods, which include animal meats such as sausages, hot dogs, and ham,” Bishoff said.
“Ideally, whole food options should be the primary source of protein for both plant-based and omnivorous diets. Whole food diets tend to improve cardiometabolic health because they contain more fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants.”
–Haley Bishoff, RDN, LD
Costa also noted that the current research highlights “the nutritional differences between plant-based meat analogs, animal-based foods, and whole plant-based foods, despite advances in processing techniques and carefully selected ingredients used to create plant-based meat analogs, animal-based foods, and plant-based meat alternatives.” he stated.
In conclusion, Costa said: “This research highlights the importance of understanding that not all plant-based diets are created equal.”
“While choosing more plant-based options can provide health benefits, it is important to focus on whole, minimally processed foods rather than relying solely on ultra-processed alternatives,” he reiterated.