Isocaloric Substitution of Plant-Based Protein for Animal-Based Protein and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in a Multiethnic Asian Population

Authors

Yu Qi Lee, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: ephlyq@nus.edu.sg.
Airu Chia, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Clare Whitton, School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
David Cameron-Smith, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
Xueling Sim, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Rob M. van Dam, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Departments of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington DC, United States.
Mary F-F Chong, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

5-1-2023

Journal

The Journal of nutrition

Volume

153

Issue

5

DOI

10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.03.024

Keywords

Asian; cardiovascular disease; dietary protein; lipids; plant-based

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Evidence is accumulating that intake of animal-based and plant-based proteins has different effects on cardiometabolic health, but less is known about the health effect of isocaloric substitution of animal-based and plant-based proteins. Data from Asian populations are limited. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of isocaloric substitution of total plant-based proteins for total and various animal-based protein food groups and to evaluate the effects of substituting protein from legumes and pulses for various animal-based protein food groups on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and predicted 10-y CVD risk. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data collected from 9211 Singapore residents (aged 21-75 y) from the Singapore Multi-Ethnic Cohort. Data on sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were collected using questionnaires. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated FFQ. BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured during a physical examination, and blood samples were collected to measure lipid profiles. Associations were assessed by substitution models using a multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Isocaloric substitution of total plant-based proteins for total and all specific animal-based protein food groups were associated with lower BMI (β: -0.30; 95% CI: -0.38, -0.22), waist circumference (β: -0.85; 95% CI: -1.04, -0.66), and LDL cholesterol concentrations (β: -0.06; 95% CI: -0.08, -0.05) (P < 0.0056). Replacement of processed meat and processed seafood proteins with total plant-based proteins was associated with improvement in most CVD risk factors and predicted 10-y CVD risk. Replacement of oily fish with legume proteins was associated with lower HDL cholesterol and higher TG concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: The substitution of plant-based proteins for animal-based proteins, especially from processed meat and processed seafood, was inversely associated with the established CVD risk factors such as BMI, waist circumference, and lipid concentrations and predicted 10-y CVD risk. These findings warrant further investigation in independent studies in other Asian populations.

APA Citation

Lee, Yu Qi; Chia, Airu; Whitton, Clare; Cameron-Smith, David; Sim, Xueling; van Dam, Rob M.; and F-F Chong, Mary, "Isocaloric Substitution of Plant-Based Protein for Animal-Based Protein and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in a Multiethnic Asian Population" (2023). GW Authored Works. Paper 2987.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/2987

Department

Exercise and Nutrition Sciences