A new long-term study has debunked the myth that consumption of meat and other forms of animal protein has links to lifestyle ailments and certain cancers.
The findings came from a U.S. study that followed the health and dietary habits of 16,000 adults for nearly two decades using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), done between 1988 and 1994.
The study essentially looked into health outcomes with a special focus on mortalities from heart disease, cancer and other causes in relation to animal protein intake.
Both animal- and plant-based protein sources were evaluated, with researchers seeking to determine whether the type of protein consumed had any considerable impact on longevity or disease-specific mortality.
For accuracy, scientists used a statistical method known as Markov Chain Monte Carlo modelling, which is used to estimate complex probabilities, particularly when calculating them directly is nearly impossible.
Through this method, researchers were able to estimate long-term dietary habits more reliably than with traditional one-time food diaries.
Another crucial variant during the research was the adjustment for several lifestyle and health factors, including age, body weight, smoking status and pre-existing medical conditions. In other words, they picked individuals without any underlying health conditions to isolate the impact of protein sources on mortality more confidently.
Findings
Following extensive research, it was found that there was no association between animal protein consumption and an increased mortality risk from any major cause, such as cardiovascular disease, in individuals who had peak health conditions in the first place.
Specifically, the study found that each additional gram of animal protein consumed led to a modest, almost negligible decrease in cancer mortality.
Plant-based protein, meanwhile, showed a neutral effect, as results showed it neither increased nor decreased the mortality risk from heart disease, cancer or other causes.
“Our analysis revealed no significant adverse associations between dietary protein from either plant or animal origin and all-cause or cardiovascular mortality,” the authors stated. “We observed a small but significant protective effect of animal protein on cancer mortality.”
From the study, researchers reinforced the idea that both animal and plant proteins can form part of a healthy, balanced diet when consumed in moderation as part of an overall healthy eating pattern.
However, experts continue to recommend choosing high-quality sources of animal protein such as lean meats, fish, eggs, poultry and low-fat dairy. Four to six ounces of high-quality protein per meal, paired with a variety of vegetables, whole grains and legumes, is more likely to lead to optimal health outcomes.
