Plant-based meat may lower cholesterol, weight in adults

Replacing meat with plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) results in a reduction in total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, and body weight in adults without cardiovascular diseases, a study has shown. 

Researchers systematically explored five databases from inception to July 2024 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effects of replacing meat consumption by PBMAs on cardiometabolic parameters in adult participants. 

Meta-analyses were carried out when four or more studies addressed the same outcome, such as blood lipids, blood pressure, fasting glucose, and body weight. A random-effects method was used to estimate the pooled raw mean differences (MDs) with 95 percent confidence intervals (CIs). Finally, sensitivity analyses were performed to determine the robustness of these estimates. 

Seven RCTs comprising 369 adults (mean age range, 24–61 years, 60 percent female) from eight publications met the eligibility criteria. 

Consumption of PBMAs instead of real meat contributed to significant decreases in LDL-cholesterol (MD, –0.25 mmol/L, 95 percent CI, –0.42 to –0.08; I2, 65.8 percent; n=7), TC (MD, –0.29 mmol/L, 95 percent CI, –0.52 to –0.06; I2, 64.8 percent; n=6), and body weight (MD, –0.72 kg, 95 percent CI, –1.02 to –0.42; I2, 0 percent; n=5). 

On the other hand, there were no significant changes observed in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, or fasting glucose concentrations. 

In sensitivity analyses considering mycoprotein-based alternatives, LDL-cholesterol (MD, –0.37 mmol/L, 95 percent CI, –0.61 to –0.13; I2, 53.5 percent; n=4) and TC (MD, –0.39, 95 percent CI, –0.56 to –0.21; I2, 0 percent; n=4) were found to be significantly decreased. 

“PBMAs may facilitate the transition to a plant-based diet, but long-term studies are needed to evaluate their cardiometabolic effects,” the researchers said.