Amino acid composition, but not total protein, differs in plant-based and omnivorous dietary patterns, determines metabolic health effects in mice

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2021.06.011

Commentary

This study investigates the impact of changing dietary patterns.

Changing the dietary pattern to a plant-based diet is associated with improved cardiometabolic health, but the factors involved are unknown.

As a consideration, protein is said to play a role, but the importance of the quantity and quality of protein is unknown. The study examined the contribution of total protein, amino acid (AA) composition, plant and animal sources, and the results of the analysis of total protein, AA composition and dietary patterns of foods revealed differences between individual foods.

The results showed little difference in the AA profiles of vegan and omnivorous dietary patterns, confirming the influence of protein quantity on health markers of cardiometabolism. This was observed in mice on a semi-purified diet containing crystalline AA in animal-based proportions, and in mice on a naturally occurring diet containing whole food ingredients.

This suggests that protein intake in a plant-based dietary pattern may contribute to the benefits of a plant-based diet. However, the fact that the results are from an animal study should be interpreted with caution.