Scientists from Maastricht University (Netherlands) found that plant protein sources are not as effective as traditional animal sources in the synthesis of muscle mass in older people. results published In the Journal of Nutrition.
With the rise of vegetarianism and veganism, which includes avoiding animal products, Dutch scientists conducted a study to find out whether plant protein sources were effective in building and maintaining muscle mass in older adults. It involved 16 healthy volunteers ranging in age from 65 to 85 years old. In the first phase of the experiment, participants had to eat a meal containing one serving of ground meat (100 grams). On the second day, volunteers were served another meal consisting of unprocessed, commonly consumed plant-based protein ingredients such as quinoa, soybeans, chickpeas and kidney beans.
The scientists measured the rate of muscle protein synthesis in the participants’ bodies after each meal. It turns out that a beef meal with similar calorie content and protein content (36 grams) is more effective at building muscle mass than a vegan meal. A study on the amino acid profile in the blood plasma of volunteers showed a 47% increase in the rate of muscle protein synthesis after eating beef compared to a vegan diet. Additionally, the animal product was able to increase leucine levels in the participants’ blood by 139%. This amino acid is necessary for the production of muscle fibers.
Previous scientists refuted benefits of vegetarianism and veganism.