Plant-based meat products, part of many vegan diets, do not provide any widespread cardiometabolic health benefits when compared to diets that include animal meats, according to a recent study.
In the study, 82 participants were split into two groups. The first group substituted the protein foods in their diet with six popular PBMAs. The second group substituted their usual protein foods with animal-based products.
Researchers measured multiple cardiometabolic health factors of the participants before and after the trial, including cholesterol levels and the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure and sugar levels.
The study concluded that a plant-based meat diet “did not show widespread cardiometabolic health benefits” compared to an omnivorous diet composed of both plant and animal foods over a period of eight weeks.
“As it stands, the PBMA choices currently available in the market do not offer same health advantages as a traditional plant-based diet, generally consisting of whole foods such as whole grains, legumes, and a plethora of fruits and vegetables,” Dr. Sumanto Haldar, a lecturer in nutrition science at Bournemouth University who was part of the study team, said in a statement from the university.
Benefits of Higher Protein
In the study, researchers noted that among a subgroup of participants who underwent a 3-day fixed menu, their glycemic management—the optimal serum glucose concentration that must be maintained among diabetic patients—was found to be “more effective” in the omnivorous animal-based meat diet (ABMD) group.Researchers suggested that glycemic improvements in the ABMD group could be linked to higher protein consumption and lower carbohydrate intake in such diets.
Ambulatory blood pressure assessments, which involve monitoring blood pressure readings over a 24-hour period, also saw “modest improvements” with an animal-based meat diet.
These findings, together with other cardiometabolic health outcomes measured in the study, suggest that even though traditional plant-based diets have well-documented health benefits, such health benefits “should not be conflated” with plant-based meat diets.
The two are “distinct in both their nutrition, as well as its impact on cardiometabolic disease risk,” the study said.
“In spite of the carefully curated ingredients, recipes, and advances in processing techniques to mimic meat-like textures and flavors, there remain clear discrepancies in nutritional composition between PBMA and their animal-based counterparts.”
Other Evidence of Poor Nutrition
Multiple other studies have questioned claims of plant-based meat foods being better than animal meat. A September 2022 study analyzed plant-based meat products and found that “none of the products could be regarded as a good source of iron.”Moreover, “producers of the products analyzed in this study appear to use nutritional claims regarding iron that appear not in line with European regulations, since the iron is in a form not available by the body. Meat substitutes analyzed in this study do not contribute to absorbed iron in a relevant manner.”
“Because some of those products, even though they contain high amounts of plant-based protein, may also contain unhealthy ingredients, such as high amounts of sodium or unhealthy fats. Being plant-based doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthier.”
The survey found that 32 percent of respondents had never tried plant-based foods. The top reason, with 45 percent of survey respondents, was the assumption that such foods taste bad. In addition, 23 percent were not convinced about the health benefits of plant-based diets.
“Whether for personal health or planetary health reasons, many Americans are intent on eating more plant-based foods, but still struggle to commit to the lifestyle. In fact, more than 2 in 5 (42 percent) Americans previously made a New Year’s resolution to add more plant-based foods to their meals but did not stick to it,” Wakefield said in a press release at the time.
Meanwhile, meat consumption may increase longevity. A February 2022 study analyzed 175 nations and territories across the world, comparing various metrics such as life expectancy and the intake of carbohydrates and meat. They found that meat intake was associated with longer life.
“This relationship remained significant when influences of caloric intake, urbanization, obesity, education, and carbohydrate crops were statistically controlled,” the study stated.
