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An increased intake of vegetable protein means that women are healthier overall as they age and are less likely to develop chronic diseases.
A new study involving experts from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health examined the long-term role of dietary protein intake in healthy aging in women. The results are published in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition”.
Do proteins support healthy aging?
The team analyzed data from more than 48,000 women from the Nurses’ Health Study, which followed female health professionals from 1984 to 2016. The participants were between 38 and 59 years old in 1984 and were considered physically and mentally healthy at the start of the study.
Surveys were carried out every four years in which the participants also reported how frequently certain foods were consumed. This enabled the researchers to calculate the participants’ protein intake and compare this with the occurrence of illnesses.
The team compared the diets of women who did not develop any of 11 chronic diseases or had only minor impairments in physical function or mental health with the diets of participants who developed corresponding diseases and impairments.
Vegetable protein for healthy aging
It was found that women who consumed more plant protein were 46 percent more likely to remain healthy into old age, the team reports. However, if women consumed more animal protein, they were six percent less likely to remain healthy in old age.
“Those who consumed larger amounts of animal protein tended to suffer more from chronic illnesses and were unable to achieve the improved physical performance that we normally associate with protein consumption,” said study author Dr. Ardisson Korat in a press release.
In contrast, plant protein showed a consistent correlation across all observed models and was more closely linked to good mental health later in life, the researchers report.
Cholesterol levels and blood pressure benefit
Higher consumption of plant protein was associated with lower LDL cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and lower insulin sensitivity in the study, particularly in heart disease.
Animal protein, on the other hand, led to higher levels of LDL cholesterol, blood pressure and insulin sensitivity, as well as an increase in insulin-like growth factor, which plays a role in cancer, the team explains.
The experts conclude that the benefits of plant-based protein may be due to the ingredients in plant-based foods (such as fiber and polyphenols) and not just to protein itself. Further research is now required to clarify this question.
Vegetable protein recommended
Overall, the study results support the recommendation that women should consume the majority of their protein in the form of fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, the researchers conclude. (as)