The examine reveals that the dietary worth of meat options at the moment in the marketplace is commonly insufficient, based mostly on components similar to uncooked materials choice (usually imported soybeans), processing strategies (antinutrient content material), and added components (fats high quality, salt).
The emergence of plant-based protein choices as options to meat has grown considerably as extra people undertake a plant-based weight loss plan. Nevertheless, the dietary worth of those merchandise remains to be a priority. Examine from Chalmers College of Know-how It was present in Sweden that most of the meat substitutes bought in Sweden are excessive in iron, however it’s in a type that the physique can not soak up.
Professor Anne-Sophie Sandberg, Division of Biology and Organic Engineering, Chalmers College of Know-how. Credit score: Chalmers
A weight loss plan consisting largely of plant meals similar to root greens, pulses, fruits, and greens has an total low local weather influence and can also be related to well being advantages similar to diminished threat of age-related diabetes and heart problems, as has been proven in a number of massive research. . However there have been far fewer research on how individuals’s well being is affected by consuming merchandise based mostly on what are often known as plant proteins.
Within the new examine by Chalmers, a analysis staff on the Division of Meals Science and Diet analyzed 44 completely different meat substitutes bought in Sweden. The merchandise are made primarily from soy and pea protein, but additionally embrace fermented soybean product and mycoproteins, that’s, proteins from fungi.
“Amongst these merchandise, we noticed nice variance in dietary content material and the way sustainable they have been from a well being perspective. Normally, the estimated absorption of iron and zinc from the merchandise was very low. It’s because these meat options include excessive ranges of phytates, antinutrients that inhibit the absorption of minerals in physique, says Cecilia Meyer-Lappa, lead writer of the examine, who lately defended her thesis on dietary restrictions for switching from animal protein to plant-based protein.
The physique loses important minerals
Phytates are discovered naturally in beans and grains – they accumulate when proteins are extracted to be used in meat substitutes. Within the digestive tract, the place minerals are absorbed, phytates type insoluble compounds containing important dietary minerals, notably non-heme iron (Iron present in plant meals) and zinc, which implies they can’t be absorbed within the gut.
Iron and zinc additionally accumulate in protein extraction. For this reason excessive ranges are listed among the many components of the product, however the minerals are sure to the phytates and can’t be absorbed and utilized by the physique,” says Cecilia Meyer-Laba.
Dr. Cecilia Meyer-Labba, Division of Biology and Organic Engineering, Chalmers College of Know-how. Credit score: Martina Butorac/Chalmers
Iron deficiency amongst ladies is a widespread international drawback. In Europe, 10 to 32 p.c of girls of childbearing age and about one in three adolescent ladies in secondary faculty in Sweden are affected. Ladies are additionally the group more than likely in society to modify to a vegetarian weight loss plan and eat the least quantity of pink meat, which is the principle supply of iron that’s simply absorbed within the digestive tract.
Clearly, with regards to minerals in meat options, the quantity obtainable for absorption by the physique is a vital consideration. You may’t simply take a look at the components checklist. A number of the merchandise we studied are fortified with iron however nonetheless inhibited by phytates. We consider that making dietary claims about these vitamins that may solely be absorbed by the physique can create incentives for trade to enhance these merchandise, says Ann-Sophie Sandberg, professor of meals science and vitamin at Chalmers and co-author of the examine.
The meals trade wants new methods
Tempeh, which is constituted of fermented soybeans, differed from different meat options within the quantity of iron obtainable for the physique to soak up. This was anticipated, because the fermentation of tempeh makes use of microorganisms that break down phytate. Fungal proteins have been characterised by their excessive zinc content material, with out containing any recognized absorption inhibitors. Nevertheless, in response to the researchers, it’s nonetheless not clear how our intestine can break down the cell partitions of the fungal protein and the way this, in flip, impacts the absorption of vitamins.
Plant-based meals are essential for the transition to sustainable meals manufacturing, and there may be big growth potential for plant-based meat options. The trade wants to contemplate the dietary worth of those merchandise and make the most of and enhance recognized course of methods similar to fermentation, but additionally develop new methods to extend the absorption of assorted essential vitamins,” says Cecilia Meyer-Laba.
Manufacturing of plant proteins
- Most plant protein merchandise in the marketplace are based mostly on protein extracted from a cultivated plant, similar to a soybean, and separated from different plant components.
- The protein is then subjected to excessive strain and temperature, which restructures the proteins, often known as construction so {that a} extra meaty and chewy product might be obtained together with the opposite components.
- Chalmers’ examine reveals that the dietary worth of meat options obtainable immediately is commonly poor relying on the selection of uncooked supplies (usually imported soybeans) and processing circumstances (antinutrient content material), and on components (fats and salt high quality).
- A 150-gram serving of meat different contributes as much as 60 p.c of the utmost advisable each day quantity of salt, which is 6 grams in response to Northern Diet suggestions.
Reference: “Dietary composition and estimated bioavailability of iron and zinc for meat substitutes obtainable on the Swedish market” By Inger Cecilia Meyer-Lappa, Hannah Steinhausen, Linnea Almius, Knud-Erik Bach-Knudsen, and Anne-Sofi Sandberg, Sept. 21, 2022, Out there Right here. Vitamins.
DOI: 10.3390/nu14193903
The examine was funded by the Birtibus Basis, the Swedish Analysis Council, and Västra Götaland Area.