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Oct 04, 2023

New Research Reveals That Plant

By Chalmers University of TechnologyJanuary 17, 2023 The study reveals that the

By Chalmers University of TechnologyJanuary 17, 2023

The study reveals that the nutritional value of meat substitutes currently on the market is often inadequate, based on factors such as the selection of raw materials (often imported soy), processing methods (content of anti-nutrients), and added ingredients (fat quality and salt).

The rise of plant-based protein options as meat substitutes has grown significantly as more individuals adopt a plant-based diet. However, the nutritional value of these products remains a concern. A study from the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden has found that many meat substitutes sold in Sweden boast high iron content, but it is in a form that cannot be absorbed by the body.

Professor Ann-Sofie Sandberg, The Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology. Credit: Chalmers

A diet largely made up of plant-based foods such as root vegetables, pulses, fruit, and vegetables generally has a low climate impact and is also associated with health benefits such as a reduced risk of age-related diabetes and cardiovascular diseaseCardiovascular disease refers to a group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, and stroke. It is caused by a variety of factors, including lifestyle choices (such as smoking and poor diet), genetics, and underlying medical conditions (such as high blood pressure and diabetes). Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide, but can often be prevented or managed through lifestyle changes, medications, and medical procedures such as bypass surgery and angioplasty." data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]">cardiovascular disease, as has been shown in several large studies. But there have been far fewer studies of how people's health is affected by eating products based on what is known as texture plant proteins.

In the new study from Chalmers, a research team in the Division of Food and Nutrition Science analyzed 44 different meat substitutes sold in Sweden. The products are mainly manufactured from soy and pea protein, but also include the fermented soy product tempeh and mycoproteins, that is, proteins from fungi.

"Among these products, we saw a wide variation in nutritional content and how sustainable they can be from a health perspective. In general, the estimated absorption of iron and zinc from the products was extremely low. This is because these meat substitutes contained high levels of phytates, antinutrients that inhibit the absorption of minerals in the body," says Cecilia Mayer Labba, the study's lead author, who recently defended her thesis on the nutritional limitations of switching from animal protein to plant-based protein.

Phytates are found naturally in beans and cereals – they accumulate when proteins are extracted for use in meat substitutes. In the gastrointestinal tract, where mineral absorption takes place, phytates form insoluble compounds with essential dietary minerals, especially non-heme iron (iron found in plant foods) and zinc, which means that they cannot be absorbed in the intestine.

"Both iron and zinc also accumulate in protein extraction. This is why high levels are listed among the product's ingredients, but the minerals are bound to phytates and cannot be absorbed and used by the body," says Cecilia Mayer Labba.

Dr. Cecilia Mayer Labba, The Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology. Credit: Martina Butorac/Chalmers

Iron deficiency among women is a widespread, global problem. In Europe, 10 to 32 per cent of women of childbearing age are affected and almost one in three teenage girls at secondary school in Sweden. Women are also the group in society most likely to have switched to a plant-based diet and to eat the least amount of red meat, which is the main source of iron that can be easily absorbed in the digestive tract.

‘It is clear that when it comes to minerals in meat substitutes, the amount that is available for absorption by the body is a very important consideration. You cannot just look at the list of ingredients. Some of the products we studied are fortified with iron but it is still inhibited by phytates. We believe that making nutrition claims on only those nutrients that can be absorbed by the body could create incentives for the industry to improve those products,’ says Ann-Sofie Sandberg, Professor of Food and Nutrition Science at Chalmers and co-author of the study.

Tempeh, made from fermented soybeans, differed from the other meat substitutes in the amount of iron available for absorption by the body. This was expected, as the fermentation of tempeh uses microorganisms that break down phytates. Mycoproteins stood out for their high zinc content, without containing any known absorption inhibitors. However, according to the researchers, it is still unclear how well our intestines can break down the cell walls of mycoprotein and how this in turn affects the absorption of nutrients.

"Plant-based food is important for the transition to sustainable food production, and there is huge development potential for plant-based meat substitutes. The industry needs to think about the nutritional value of these products and to utilize and optimize known process techniques such as fermentation, but also develop new methods to increase the absorption of various important nutrients," says Cecilia Mayer Labba.

Reference: "Nutritional Composition and Estimated Iron and Zinc Bioavailability of Meat Substitutes Available on the Swedish Market" by Inger-Cecilia Mayer Labba, Hannah Steinhausen, Linnéa Almius, Knud Erik Bach Knudsen and Ann-Sofie Sandberg, 21 September 2022, Nutrients.DOI: 10.3390/nu14193903

The study was funded by the Bertebos Foundation, the Swedish Research Council Formas, and the region of Västra Götaland.