The Role of the Anabolic Properties of Plant- versus Animal-Based Protein Sources in Supporting Muscle Mass Maintenance: A Critical Review

Abstract

Plant-sourced proteins offer environmental and health benefits, and research increasingly includes them in study formulas. However, plant-based proteins have less of an anabolic effect than animal proteins due to their lower digestibility, lower essential amino acid content (especially leucine), and deficiency in other essential amino acids, such as sulfur amino acids or lysine. Thus, plant amino acids are directed toward oxidation rather than used for muscle protein synthesis. In this review, we evaluate the ability of plant- versus animal-based proteins to help maintain skeletal muscle mass in healthy and especially older people and examine different nutritional strategies for improving the anabolic properties of plant-based proteins. Among these strategies, increasing protein intake has led to a positive acute postprandial muscle protein synthesis response and even positive long-term improvement in lean mass. Increasing the quality of protein intake by improving amino acid composition could also compensate for the lower anabolic potential of plant-based proteins. We evaluated and discussed four nutritional strategies for improving the amino acid composition of plant-based proteins: fortifying plant-based proteins with specific essential amino acids, selective breeding, blending several plant protein sources, and blending plant with animal-based protein sources. These nutritional approaches need to be profoundly examined in older individuals in order to optimize protein intake for this population who require a high-quality food protein intake to mitigate age-related muscle loss.

Biodiverse food plants in the semiarid region of Brazil have unknown potential: A systematic review

“…A second point, which concerns protein quality: plant-based proteins have a lower anabolic potential than those animal-based [57]. Two strategies can be useful to ensure the intake of essential amino acids in plant-based diets: increase the intake of proteins and improve the quality of those present in the diet [58].…”

Dietary Protein Intake Patterns and Inadequate Protein Intake in Older Adults from Four Countries

“…Third, we had no data about the foods consumed (e.g., meat, dairy, and grains). Protein sources are important because animal protein has a higher anabolic effect than vegetable proteins; this effect is mainly attributable to higher amino acid availability in animal-based foods than those coming from plant-based foods [ 52 ]. Therefore, the inclusion of data of ingested foods and food intake patterns along the determination of IPI per day and per meal might help to understand their combined role on health-related variables and which foods are associated with a lower probability of inadequacy [ 19 , 53 , 54 , 55 ].…”

The Relationship Between Healthy Eating Motivation and Protein Intake in Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Varying Functional Status

“…It is possible that these people with functional limitations may receive support in the provision of food, for example, from relatives or friends, which is why their own eating motivation is less reflected in their eating behavior. Animal-based protein sources are regarded as highly relevant for muscle functioning [7,17,58,59]; nevertheless, it is to date still discussed to what extent distinct protein sources affect different domains of physical function. For example, Coelho et al [60] and Gazzani et al [61] both identified a positive association of walking speed and plant-based protein ingestion.…”