The examine reveals that the dietary worth of meat options at the moment in the marketplace is usually insufficient, based mostly on components akin to uncooked materials choice (typically imported soybeans), processing strategies (antinutrient content material), and added substances (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-reduction plan. Nevertheless, the dietary worth of those merchandise continues to be a priority. Examine from Chalmers College of Expertise It was present in Sweden that most of the meat substitutes offered in Sweden are excessive in iron, however it’s in a kind that the physique can not take up.
Professor Anne-Sophie Sandberg, Division of Biology and Organic Engineering, Chalmers College of Expertise. Credit score: Chalmers
A weight-reduction plan consisting largely of plant meals akin to root greens, pulses, fruits, and greens has an general low local weather influence and can also be related to well being advantages akin to lowered 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 referred to as plant proteins.
Within the new examine by Chalmers, a analysis group on the Division of Meals Science and Diet analyzed 44 totally different meat substitutes offered in Sweden. The merchandise are made primarily from soy and pea protein, but additionally embody 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 creator 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 kind insoluble compounds containing important dietary minerals, significantly 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. That is why excessive ranges are listed among the many substances 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 Expertise. Credit score: Martina Butorac/Chalmers
Iron deficiency amongst ladies is a widespread world drawback. In Europe, 10 to 32 p.c of girls of childbearing age and about one in three adolescent women in secondary college in Sweden are affected. Ladies are additionally the group almost certainly in society to modify to a vegetarian weight-reduction 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, in the case of minerals in meat options, the quantity out there for absorption by the physique is an important consideration. You’ll be able to’t simply take a look at the substances checklist. Among the merchandise we studied are fortified with iron however nonetheless inhibited by phytates. We imagine 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 made out of fermented soybeans, differed from different meat options within the quantity of iron out there 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 identified absorption inhibitors. Nevertheless, based on 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 necessary for the transition to sustainable meals manufacturing, and there may be enormous growth potential for plant-based meat options. The trade wants to think about the dietary worth of those merchandise and reap the benefits of and enhance identified course of strategies akin to fermentation, but additionally develop new methods to extend the absorption of varied necessary 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, akin to a soybean, and separated from different plant substances.
- The protein is then subjected to excessive strain and temperature, which restructures the proteins, referred to as construction so {that a} extra meaty and chewy product may be obtained together with the opposite substances.
- Chalmers’ examine exhibits that the dietary worth of meat options out there right now is usually poor relying on the selection of uncooked supplies (typically 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 every day quantity of salt, which is 6 grams based on Northern Diet suggestions.
Reference: “Dietary composition and estimated bioavailability of iron and zinc for meat substitutes out there on the Swedish market” By Inger Cecilia Meyer-Lappa, Hannah Steinhausen, Linnea Almius, Knud-Erik Bach-Knudsen, and Anne-Sofi Sandberg, Sept. 21, 2022, Accessible Right here. Vitamins.
DOI: 10.3390/nu14193903
The examine was funded by the Birtibus Basis, the Swedish Analysis Council, and Västra Götaland Area.