August 18, 2023

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Increasing legumes and reducing red meat is safe for bone health and protein intake, study shows

Faba beans. Credit: Suvi Itkonen
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Faba beans. Credit: Suvi Itkonen

A study conducted at the University of Helsinki demonstrated that the partial substitution of red and processed meat with pea- and faba bean–based food products ensured sufficient intake of amino acids in the diet and did not negatively affect bone metabolism.

"Decreasing the consumption of red and processed meat in the diet to the upper limit of the Planetary Health Diet while increasing the consumption of legumes cultivated in Finland, such as peas and faba beans, is safe from the perspective of protein nutrition. Similarly, bone health is not compromised by such a dietary change either," says Docent Suvi Itkonen from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry.

In the BeanMan study, 102 Finnish men followed a study diet for six weeks.

Otherwise, the study subjects followed their habitual diet but were not allowed to eat other red or processed meat or legumes than those provided by the study. The findings are published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

The researchers did not find any differences between the dietary groups in markers of bone formation or resorption. Neither did the intake of calcium or vitamin D differ between the groups. Calcium intake was in line with the current dietary recommendations, and the intake of vitamin D was very close to the recommendations. Mean and protein intakes met the recommendations in both groups.

"Reducing read is extremely important in terms of environmental impact," Itkonen notes.

Increasingly plant-based diets are becoming more and more popular, and the recently updated Nordic Nutrition Recommendations also emphasize the restriction of consumption and the moderation of dairy consumption.

"In this study, the subjects consumed as in their habitual diets, thus their calcium and vitamin D intakes were unchanged. However, in terms of , it is important to bear in mind that if one reduces the amount of dairy in the diet, it is necessary to ensure the intake of calcium and vitamin D from other sources. These sources can be plant-based beverages and yogurt-like products fortified with those nutrients or, when necessary, dietary supplements," Itkonen points out.

Other findings in the BeanMan study related to, among others, , gut health and nutrient intakes will be published in the future.

More information: Suvi T. Itkonen et al, Effects of partial replacement of red and processed meat with non-soya legumes on bone and mineral metabolism and amino acid intakes in BeanMan randomised clinical trial, British Journal of Nutrition (2023). DOI: 10.1017/S0007114523001514

Journal information: British Journal of Nutrition

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