Animal- and Plant-Based Protein Sources: A Scoping Review of Human Health Outcomes and Environmental Impact

Abstract

Dietary proteins are indispensable to human nutrition. In addition to their tissue-building function, they affect body composition and regulate various metabolic pathways, as well as satiety and immune system activity. Protein use can be examined from a quantitative or qualitative viewpoint. In this scoping review, we compare animal- and plant-based protein sources in terms of their effects on human health and the environment. We conclude that the consumption of vegetable protein sources is associated with better health outcomes overall (namely, on the cardiovascular system) than animal-based product use. The healthier outcomes of vegetable protein sources dovetail with their lower environmental impact, which must be considered when designing an optimal diet. Indeed, the health of the planet cannot be disjointed from the health of the human being. Future research will clarify the mechanisms of action underlying the health effects of plant-based protein sources when compared with animal sources, fostering better agronomic practices and influencing public health in a direction that will benefit both the planet and its inhabitants.

Advances in Understanding the Interplay between Dietary Practices, Body Composition, and Sports Performance in Athletes

“…The positive health effects of vegetable protein sources align with their reduced environmental footprint, a crucial factor to be taken into account when formulating an ideal diet. Undoubtedly, the well-being of the Earth is intricately connected to the well-being of human beings [ 177 ]. In relation to this, prevention guidelines advocate consuming diets that are abundant in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and lean sources of protein, while minimizing or avoiding processed foods, trans-fats, and sugar sweetened beverages.…”

Characterizing Factors Associated with Excess Body Weight: A Descriptive Study Using Principal Component Analysis in a Population with Overweight and Obesity

“…Considering that dietary cholesterol is only found in animal products, and due to the strong correlation found between protein intake and dietary cholesterol, both corrected by EI ( rho = 0.509, p < 0.001), it could be inferred that the main source of protein in the participants’ diet was of animal origin. The high consumption of protein coming from plant-based foods (legumes, nuts, seeds) has been associated with better health outcomes [ 55 ], whilst a higher consumption of animal products, specifically red or processed meat, has been related to cardiovascular diseases, mainly due to their high content of SFA [ 56 ]. As previously mentioned, the subjects of this study exceeded the recommended intake of SFA and protein, while their dietary fibre intake was low, as was the “Plant-based diet factor” (21.4%) ( Table 7 ), corroborating the high consumption of animal-based products ( Table 3 ).…”

Neither Trimethylamine-N-Oxide nor Trimethyllysine Is Associated with Atherosclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study in Older Japanese Adults

“…As vegetable proteins, such as casein, soy protein, and wheat gluten, have been discovered to be sources of TML [ 45 ], TML may have acted as a marker of vegetable consumption in our population. Vegetables have been assumed to prevent the progression of atherosclerosis [ 45 , 46 ] via the reduction of plasma lipids, antioxidant effects, antiproliferative and anti-migratory effects on smooth muscle cells, and the maintenance of normal vascular reactivity [ 47 , 48 ]. As in the case of TMAO and fish consumption, we may need to be cautious about the dietary sources of TML when considering its pathophysiological roles.…”