A study conducted by the University of Warwick has found that swapping meat for plant-based alternatives lowers low-density lipoprotein (known as ‘bad’) cholesterol.

Plant-based diets based on unprocessed foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, are known to help mitigate important risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, it was previously unestablished whether those heavy in meat alternatives would have the same benefits.

The University of Warwick study reviewed previous research from controlled clinical trials to compare diets with a significant alt-meat component to diets containing animal meat. It included products made from soy, wheat, peanut and pea protein, as well as mycoprotein-based alternatives.

The findings, which have been published in quarterly journal Dietetics, included that substituting meat in the diet with plant-based alternatives is likely to benefit cholesterol levels and could possibly reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and CVD.

Lead author Joshua Gibbs, a PhD student at Warwick Medical School, said: “We reviewed 12 studies involving 459 participants, in which the effects of meat alternative consumption on cholesterol, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and body weight were studied in controlled clinical trials”.

“Meta-analysis of these studies showed that meat alternative consumption lowers total cholesterol, LDL [low-density lipoprotein] cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Meat alternative consumption reduced total cholesterol by half a point (0.5 mmol/L) and LDL cholesterol by 0.39 mmol/L when compared with omnivorous diets.”

Elevated levels of LDL cholesterol can lead to the buildup of fatty plaques in the arteries, which restrict blood flow and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to Gibbs.

He continued: “An LDL cholesterol reduction of the scale caused by meat alternative consumption would reduce the risk of developing heart disease by about 25% over a two-year period”.

“This is a significant finding as it highlights that people can obtain some of the benefits of healthy plant-based diets whilst making minimal dietary change i.e., swapping animal meat with meat alternatives.”

However, consumers interested in making the switch should avoid regularly consuming products that are high in saturated fat and salt, Gibbs noted, “as these ingredients may undermine the cardiovascular health benefits observed in our study”.

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