The intake of proteins and essential amino acids by vegans is sufficient, but ultra-processed products are also needed: research

In an article published in JAMA network openedResearchers from the University of São Paulo Medical School (FM-USP) report on a study of 774 men and women following a vegan diet in Brazil.

Their findings show that on average, participants consumed the recommended amount of protein and essential amino acids, and that their diet consisted largely of unprocessed and minimally processed foods. However, participants who consumed proportionately lower levels of industrialized products, such as protein supplements and textured soy protein, were more likely to have inadequate protein intake, indicating that this population is significantly dependent on nutrients from ultra-processed proteins.

The term “ultra-processed products”, coined by researchers from the School of Public Health (FSP-USP) of the same university, refers to industrially formulated edible substances synthesized from fractionated ingredients and mixed with chemical additives (colorants, flavors, emulsifiers). , thickeners, etc.). ) to increase their palatability.

“Our results contradict the stigma that a vegan diet cannot provide the amount of protein and essential amino acids a person needs, and show that a vegan diet can be nutritionally sufficient. Additionally, the vegans in the study consumed ultra-processed products. less than the general population,” said Hamilton Roschel, final author of the paper and head of the Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group at FM-USP’s Center for Lifestyle Medicine.

The researchers measured the participants’ intake of protein and essential amino acids and calculated the proportions of unprocessed, processed and ultra-processed items in their meals, based on a diary kept by each participant to track everything they ate each day.

“It is known that animal food products generally contain higher protein density and essential amino acids. For example, meat, milk and eggs contain more protein per gram than rice or beans. It was therefore important to investigate whether this requirement was met by diets consisting of only plant protein,” Roschel said.

This was the main reason to investigate whether a vegan diet provides sufficient protein and acceptable levels of essential amino acids.

The analysis conducted by the researchers showed that participants mainly consumed unprocessed and minimally processed foods, which accounted for 66.5% of energy intake, while ultra-processed products accounted for 13.2%. According to the IBGE Household Budget Survey (POF), the ratios for the general population are 44.9% and 23.7% respectively.

The study also found that there is a significant correlation between adequate protein intake and the consumption of ultra-processed products. “Although this group consumed a small amount of ultra-processed foods, some participants seemed to rely on them to meet their protein needs. This is partly because unprocessed foods are generally less protein-rich, a fact that paved the way for the so-called meat substitute industry, whose market share is growing,” says Roschel.

Meat substitutes consist of plant protein that has been processed to mimic different types of meat, such as vegan burgers, sausages and nuggets. Cheese substitutes are also available, using soy, pea, rice or potato protein. Both are considered ultra-processed products.

It’s worth noting that consumption of ultra-processed products is associated with an increased risk of weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases, depression, some types of cancer and premature death. Not all the effects of ultra-processed plant-based products are known, but recent evidence suggests that these too may be unhealthy.

The researchers concluded that textured soy protein (TSP) and plant-based protein supplements were the most important ultra-processed products determining adequate protein intake for Brazilian vegans.

“Although often classified as ultra-processed products, TSP and protein supplements are not necessarily unhealthy, which cannot be said for ultra-processed products that contain high levels of fat, sugar, sodium, preservatives and artificial additives, for example,” Roschel said.

Ultra-processed products as a broad category are considered unhealthy in many studies, but there is robust evidence that soy foods do not harm human health.

“TSP is an important source of protein and essential amino acids for vegans, even though it is classified as ultra-processed. Ultra-processed products vary considerably in formulation, and despite the consensus that they should generally be avoided, it is not case. It is reasonable to ignore the obvious differences between them,” he said.

As the researchers note, the same can be said about plant-based protein supplements, “an evidence-based strategy to support muscle health also associated with protein adequacy” in various contexts, such as when whole and minimally processed foods do not provide enough protein deliver. or when a clinical condition requires a different type of nutritional management. “In these contexts, plant protein plays an important role and should not be overlooked,” Roschel said.

“Our findings do not show that ultra-processed products are good, and the findings should not be used to encourage their consumption. However, it would be wrong to ignore the significant differences between these products and the importance of the role they play. play in certain contexts.

“The results of the study suggest that there is a need for policies to facilitate access to more natural and healthier foods, as well as efforts to improve nutrition education so that this population can make better food choices. As the plant-based food market grows, government regulation will be urgently needed to enable the development of affordable products with composition transparency, high quality and clearly identified health benefits.”