In an eight-week longitudinal study conducted in Singapore, no beneficial effect could be attributed to substitution of an omnivorous animal-based meat diet with plant-based meat analogues. The study was conducted over eight weeks, and involved 82 participants with an elevated risk of diabetes.
The trial demonstrated a significant interaction (time x treatment) for dietary trans-fat that was increased with the animal-based diet. In contrast, fiber, sodium and potassium all increased with the plant-based meat analog diet. Glycemic homeostasis was better regulated in the subjects consuming the animal-based meat diet. Substitution of plant-based meat analogues in the diet had no effect on lipoprotein profile including low-density lipoproteins and cholesterol.
Health claims made by proponents of plant-based meat analogs will require careful review by health professionals, the FDA and health conscious consumers. This is especially important with respect to labels and advertising claims.