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Cited by 170Muscle metabolism and nutritionProteins in Food SystemsMuscle Physiology and Disorders

The anabolic response to plant-based protein ingestion

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Pinckaers, Philippe J. M., Trommelen, Jorn, Snijders, Tim, van Loon, Luc J. C.·2021·Sports Medicine
DOI 10.1007/s40279-021-01540-8PMC PMC8566416
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Abstract

There is a global trend of an increased interest in plant-based diets. This includes an increase in the consumption of plant-based proteins at the expense of animal-based proteins. Plant-derived proteins are now also frequently applied in sports nutrition. So far, we have learned that the ingestion of plant-derived proteins, such as soy and wheat protein, result in lower post-prandial muscle protein synthesis responses when compared with the ingestion of an equivalent amount of animal-based protein. The lesser anabolic properties of plant-based versus animal-derived proteins may be attributed to differences in their protein digestion and amino acid absorption kinetics, as well as to differences in amino acid composition between these protein sources. Most plant-based proteins have a low essential amino acid content and are often deficient in one or more specific amino acids, such as lysine and methionine. However, there are large differences in amino acid composition between various plant-derived proteins or plant-based protein sources. So far, only a few studies have directly compared the muscle protein synthetic response following the ingestion of a plant-derived protein versus a high(er) quality animal-derived protein. The proposed lower anabolic properties of plant- versus animal-derived proteins may be compensated for by (i) consuming a greater amount of the plant-derived protein or plant-based protein source to compensate for the lesser quality; (ii) using specific blends of plant-based proteins to create a more balanced amino acid profile; (iii) fortifying the plant-based protein (source) with the specific free amino acid(s) that is (are) deficient. Clinical studies are warranted to assess the anabolic properties of the various plant-derived proteins and their protein sources in vivo in humans and to identify the factors that may or may not compromise the capacity to stimulate post-prandial muscle protein synthesis rates. Such work is needed to determine whether the transition towards a more plant-based diet is accompanied by a transition towards greater dietary protein intake requirements.

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  • Plant sources frequently have lower total essential amino acid contents, and leucine, methionine, and/or lysine in particular, which have been suggested to provide limitations for MPS at either the molecular signaling or substrate availability levels.

    “Although the protein found in non–animal-derived sources may be equally digestible, plant sources frequently have lower total EAA contents, and leucine, methionine, and/or lysine in particular, which have been suggested to provide limitations for MPS at either the molecular signaling or substrate availability levels [83].”

    From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [83]

  • Blending plant-based protein sources is a suggested method to obviate essential amino acid deficiencies.

    “Blending plant-based protein sources is a suggested method to obviate EAA deficiencies [71,83].”

    From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [83]

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  1. [47]FAO Expert Consultation. Dietary protein quality evaluation in human nutrition. FAO Food Nutr Pap. 2013; (92). 26369006

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Authors
Pinckaers, P. J. M., Trommelen, J., Snijders, T., & van Loon, L. J. C.
Affiliations
Maastricht University Medical Centre (NL)
ORCID
Venue
Sports Medicine
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2021-09
Volume
51
Issue
S1
Pages
59-74
ISSN
  • 0112-1642 (ISSN-L)
  • 1179-2035
DOI
10.1007/s40279-021-01540-8
PMC
PMC8566416
OpenAlex
W3200956314
Cited by
170
References
131
Citations by year
2026: 38 · 2025: 44 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 6
FWCI
2.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Sports Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • VUBIR (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Gran Sasso Science Institute
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Proteins in Food Systems
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
Keywords
plant proteins, muscle protein synthesis, anabolic response, soy protein, wheat proteins, amino acid composition, essential amino acids, lysine, methionine, protein digestion, sports nutrition, protein requirements, plant-based diet
MeSH terms
Amino Acids, Essential, Animals, Dietary Proteins, Eating, Humans, Muscle Proteins, Muscle, Skeletal

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