Comparison of animal protein and plant protein in supporting lean body mass and muscle strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Lim, MT; Pan, BJ; To, DWK; Stant, CN; Kim, JE Animal protein versus plant protein in supporting lean body mass and muscle strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrients 2021, 13, 661. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020661

Commentary

Protein is an important influencer of muscle, lean body mass, and other aspects of diet, but we are talking about it as a 3-substitute nutrient that everyone needs.

Animal protein should be considered a more potent stimulator of muscle protein synthesis than plant protein, but this study is a systematic review of the effects of protein sources on lean mass and muscle strength.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the different effects of animal and plant proteins on lean body mass and muscle strength, as well as the effects of resistance exercise training (RET) and age.

From a total of 18 articles for the systematic review, 16 were used for the meta-analysis.

Total protein intake results in exceeding the recommended dietary intake standards at baseline and at the end of the intervention.

The results of the meta-analysis showed that the protein source had no effect on the change in absolute lean body mass or muscle strength. However, a favorable effect of animal protein on the percentage of lean body mass was identified.

For young adults (<50 years of age), animal protein intake was shown to yield absolute, percent lean body mass, although RET had no effect on the results. (Weighted mean difference (WMD), 0.41 kg; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.08 to 0.74; WMD 0.50%; 95% CI 0.00 to 1.01)

These results indicate that animal protein tends to be more beneficial for lean body mass than plant protein in young adults.