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Plant- and Animal-Based Protein-Rich Foods and Cardiovascular Health

Authors:
Yu Wang at Purdue University West Lafayette
Yu Wang
Erica R. Hill
Erica R. Hill
Erica R. Hill
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Wayne Campbell at Purdue University West Lafayette
Wayne Campbell
Lauren E. O’Connor
Lauren E. O’Connor
Lauren E. O’Connor
  • This person is not on ResearchGate, or hasn't claimed this research yet.
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Abstract and Figures

Purpose of Review To summarize recent evidence from randomized controlled feeding trials (RCTs) on the effects of consuming plant- and animal-based protein-rich foods on cardiovascular health of adults. Recent Findings Results from meta-analyses of RCTs exemplify the importance of considering relative effects of protein-rich foods, i.e., when intake of one food increases, intake of another food likely decreases. Results from short-term RCTs showed that overall diet quality is more influential for improving cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors than intake of a single protein-rich food, e.g., red meat. Yet, assessing long-term CVD risk associated with intake of a single protein-rich food as part of a dietary pattern is methodologically challenging. While accumulating evidence suggests gut microbiota as a potential mediator for such effects, current knowledge is preliminary and restricts causal or functional inferences. Summary A variety of protein-rich foods, both plant- and animal-based, should be consumed as part of nutrient-dense dietary patterns to meet nutrient needs and improve cardiovascular health for adults.
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Vol.:(0123456789)
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https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-022-01003-z
NUTRITION (K. PETERSEN, SECTION EDITOR)
Plant‑ andAnimal‑Based Protein‑Rich Foods andCardiovascular
Health
YuWang1 · EricaR.Hill1 · WayneW.Campbell1 · LaurenE.O’Connor2
Accepted: 7 December 2021
This is a U.S. government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply 2022
Abstract
Purpose of Review To summarize recent evidence from randomized controlled feeding trials (RCTs) on the effects of con-
suming plant- and animal-based protein-rich foods on cardiovascular health of adults.
Recent Findings Results from meta-analyses of RCTs exemplify the importance of considering relative effects of protein-
rich foods, i.e., when intake of one food increases, intake of another food likely decreases. Results from short-term RCTs
showed that overall diet quality is more influential for improving cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors than intake of
a single protein-rich food, e.g., red meat. Yet, assessing long-term CVD risk associated with intake of a single protein-rich
food as part of a dietary pattern is methodologically challenging. While accumulating evidence suggests gut microbiota as
a potential mediator for such effects, current knowledge is preliminary and restricts causal or functional inferences.
Summary A variety of protein-rich foods, both plant- and animal-based, should be consumed as part of nutrient-dense dietary
patterns to meet nutrient needs and improve cardiovascular health for adults.
Keywords Cardiovascular disease risk· Diet quality· Dietary patterns· Food processing· Dietary guidance· Animal and
plant protein
Introduction
Humans meet dietary protein needs mainly by consuming
protein-rich whole foods, both plant- and animal-based,
rather than consuming protein in isolated supplemental
forms. Research regarding impacts of amounts and sources
of protein-rich foods on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk
factors, morbidity, and mortality is inconclusive within and
between observational and interventional studies [1, 2, 3,
4,5]. Plant- and animal-based protein-rich foods differ in
content and bioavailability of nutritive and non-nutritive
(e.g., bioactive) compounds. About 75% of Americans cur-
rently meet or exceed the recommended amounts of animal-
based protein-rich foods (e.g., meats, poultry, eggs) [6]. In
contrast, about 50% of Americans do not consume recom-
mended amounts of plant-based protein-rich foods (e.g.,
nuts, seeds, and soy products) [6]. Nearly one-half of total
protein-rich foods are consumed in mixed dishes which often
contain higher amounts of nutrients that are associated with
an increased CVD risk (e.g., sodium, saturated fat) [6]. Fur-
thermore, protein-rich foods are consumed as part of a vari-
ety of dietary patterns. Plant-based protein-rich foods (PPF)
are more commonly consumed as part of healthy dietary
patterns, whereas animal-based protein-rich foods (APF) are
more prominent in less healthy, Western-style dietary pat-
terns. Research that considers the interaction between source
of protein-rich foods and overall dietary pattern quality will
help improve our understanding of how protein-rich food
choice affects cardiovascular health.
This article is part of the Topical Collection on Nutrition
* Lauren E. O’Connor
leoconnor24@gmail.com
Yu Wang
wang3651@purdue.edu
Erica R. Hill
hill155@purdue.edu
Wayne W. Campbell
campbellw@purdue.edu
1 Department ofNutrition Science, Purdue University,
WestLafayette, IN47907, USA
2 Division ofCancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute,
National Institutes ofHealth, 4E570, 9609 Medical Center
Drive, Rockville, MD20850, USA
/ Published online: 25 March 2022
Current Atherosclerosis Reports (2022) 24:197–213
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
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... In adults with overweight and obesity, reductions in red meat intake were associated with lower serum trimethylamine N-oxide concentrations, a biomarker for atherosclerosis risk [32]. Similarly, with the exception of isoflavone-containing soy, protein-rich foods did not independently lower plasma total-and LDL-cholesterol concentrations [30]. Total red meat intake also did not influence inflammatory biomarkers associated with CVD [21]. ...
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Full-text available
  • Apr 2021
Background It remains unclear whether red meat consumption is causatively associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and few randomized controlled studies have examined the effect of incorporating lean beef into a healthy dietary pattern. Objectives To evaluate the effects of a Mediterranean (MED) diet (carbohydrate 42%, protein 17%, fat 41%, SFAs 8%, MUFAs 26%, PUFAs 8%) with 14 (MED0.5; 0.5 oz), 71 (MED2.5; 2.5 oz), and 156 (MED5.5; 5.5 oz) g/d/2000 kcal lean beef compared with an average American diet (AAD; carbohydrate 52%, protein 15%, fat 33%, SFAs 12%, MUFAs 13%, PUFAs 8%) on lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, particle number, and size. Methods This was a multicenter, 4-period controlled feeding, randomized crossover study. Fifty-nine generally healthy males and females (BMI 20–38 kg/m2; age 30–65 y) consumed each diet for 4 wk with a ≥1-wk washout between the diets. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and at the end of each 4-wk period. Lipid subfractions were measured by NMR. Results Compared with the AAD, all 3 MED diets decreased LDL cholesterol (MED0.5: −10.3 mg/dL; 95% CI: −5.4, −15.7 mg/dL; MED2.5: −9.1 mg/dL; 95% CI: −3.9, −14.3 mg/dL; MED5.5: −6.9 mg/dL; 95% CI: −1.7, −12.1 mg/dL; P < 0.0001). All MED diets elicited similar reductions in total LDL particle number compared with baseline (P < 0.005); however, significant decreases only occurred with MED0.5 (−91.2 nmol/L; 95% CI: −31.4, −151.0 nmol/L) and MED2.5 (−85.3 nmol/L; 95% CI: −25.4, −145.2 nmol/L) compared with AAD (P < 0.003). Compared with the AAD, non-HDL cholesterol (P < 0.01) and apoB (P < 0.01) were lower following the 3 MED diets; there were no differences between the MED diets. All diets reduced HDL-cholesterol and HDL particle number from baseline (P < 0.01). Conclusions Lipid and lipoprotein lowering was not attenuated with the inclusion of lean beef in amounts ≤71 g (2.5 oz)/d as part of a healthy low-saturated-fat Mediterranean-style diet. This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02723617.
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Dietary protein is the strong predictor of coronary artery disease; a data mining approach
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2021
Background s: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the major cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Diet is known to contribute to CAD risk, and the dietary intake of specific macro- or micro-nutrients might be potential predictors of CAD risk. Machine learning methods may be helpful in the analysis of the contribution of several parameters in dietary including macro- and micro-nutrients to CAD risk. Here we aimed to determine the most important dietary factors for predicting CAD. Methods A total of 273 cases with more than 50% obstruction in at least one coronary artery and 443 healthy controls who completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) were entered into the study. All dietary intakes were adjusted for energy intake. The QUEST method was applied to determine the diagnosis pattern of CAD. Results A total of 34 dietary variables obtained from the FFQ were entered into the initial study analysis, of these variables 23 were significantly associated with CAD according to t-tests. Of these 23 dietary input variables, adjusted protein, manganese, biotin, zinc and cholesterol remained in the model. According to our tree, only protein intake could identify the patients with coronary artery stenosis according to angiography from healthy participant up to 80%. The dietary intake of manganese was the second most important variable. The accuracy of the tree was 84.36% for the training dataset and 82.94% for the testing dataset. Conclusion Among several dietary macro- and micro-nutrients, a combination of protein, manganese, biotin, zinc and cholesterol could predict the presence of CAD in individuals undergoing angiography.
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2021 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Article
  • Nov 2021
Poor diet quality is strongly associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. This scientific statement emphasizes the importance of dietary patterns beyond individual foods or nutrients, underscores the critical role of nutrition early in life, presents elements of heart-healthy dietary patterns, and highlights structural challenges that impede adherence to heart-healthy dietary patterns. Evidence-based dietary pattern guidance to promote cardiometabolic health includes the following: (1) adjust energy intake and expenditure to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight; (2) eat plenty and a variety of fruits and vegetables; (3) choose whole grain foods and products; (4) choose healthy sources of protein (mostly plants; regular intake of fish and seafood; low-fat or fat-free dairy products; and if meat or poultry is desired, choose lean cuts and unprocessed forms); (5) use liquid plant oils rather than tropical oils and partially hydrogenated fats; (6) choose minimally processed foods instead of ultra-processed foods; (7) minimize the intake of beverages and foods with added sugars; (8) choose and prepare foods with little or no salt; (9) if you do not drink alcohol, do not start; if you choose to drink alcohol, limit intake; and (10) adhere to this guidance regardless of where food is prepared or consumed. Challenges that impede adherence to heart-healthy dietary patterns include targeted marketing of unhealthy foods, neighborhood segregation, food and nutrition insecurity, and structural racism. Creating an environment that facilitates, rather than impedes, adherence to heart-healthy dietary patterns among all individuals is a public health imperative.
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Personalized Nutrition Through The Gut Microbiota: Current Insights And Future Perspectives
Article
  • Nov 2020
This narrative review discusses how to preserve or increase health through personalized nutritional products and services using microbiome data. In contrast to other reviews, which discuss this subject in the light of metabolic disorders and/or with a nutrition-affects-the-microbiota view, this review takes the perspective that the gut microbiota (GM) affects nutrition. Gut microbes affect host nutritional status through their role in energy harvest and nutrient availability. Consequently, GM modulation could contribute to fulfil nutritional requirements and in this way conquer malnutrition and disease. This review provides an overview of microbiota modulation methods that could be used to improve nutritional status as well as the personalization of these approaches. While some of these methods are immediately applicable, others require more development to assess their feasibility and safety.
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