Plants-based protein better than animal-based protein in reducing metabolic syndrome risk: Study

USA: Simple Method for Quantifying Metabolic Syndrome (siMS) scores showed that plant-based protein (PLP) intake was linked to a decreased risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) when compared to animal-based protein (ABP), says an article published in SAGE Journals - Nutrition and Metabolic Insights.

The metabolic syndrome raises the risk of illness and early death. MetS are based on a number of variables, including blood pressure, waist size, fasting triglycerides (TG), blood glucose (BG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). The risk score and score from the Simple Method for Quantitating Metabolic Syndrome evaluate MetS risk.

With the aim of examining the correlation between ABP and PLP proteins and MetS as determined by siMS scores and risk scores, Sawyer B. and the team conducted this study. As it can lower blood pressure, waist circumference, and blood glucose, and impact blood lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, physical exercise is another crucial factor in MetS.

In a cross-sectional study, females aged 18 to 24 and 45 to 60 were evaluated to see whether siMS score and siMS risk score were related to physical activity (PA) level and dietary protein source (i.e., animal- or plant-based). The analysis took into account the average amount of sedentary, mild, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA; min/wk), steps (steps/day), energy intake (kcal/day), percentage of dietary protein to total energy intake, consumption of ABP and PLP, and the ABP: PLP ratio (g/day). From 2017 to 2019, volunteers were sought out in North Dakota and Minnesota.

The key findings of this study were as follows:

1. 81 female participants were taken up in the independent t-tests used to look at differences between the groups in terms of age, body mass index, HDL, BG, TG, systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, energy intake, energy intake percentage of total carbohydrates, fat, and protein, ABP and PLP, ABP:PLP, siMS score, and siMS risk score.

2. In order to determine if PA level and dietary protein source were predictors of siMS score and siMS risk score among young and middle-aged adult females, stepwise linear regressions were utilized.

3. The siMS score and PLP intake were inversely correlated.

4. Light PA was favorably correlated with siMS risk score while plant-based protein consumption was negatively correlated with siMS risk score.

5. Consumption of dietary proteins from animals had no effect on the siMS score or the siMS risk score.

Reference:

Sawyer, B., Stone, K. A., Kotarsky, C. J., Johnson, N., Bradley, A., Scheffert, R. A., Hackney, K. J., Byun, W., & Stastny, S. (2022). Animal-Based Dietary Protein Intake Is Not A Risk Factor For Metabolic Syndrome Among Young Or Middle-Aged Females. In Nutrition and Metabolic Insights (Vol. 15, p. 117863882211078). SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/11786388221107800