Abstract:
While animal products are rich in protein, the adequacy of dietary protein intake from vegetarian/vegan diets has long been controversial. In this review, we examine the protein and amino acid intakes from vegetarian diets followed by adults in western countries and gather information in terms of adequacy for protein and amino acids requirements, using indirect and direct data to estimate nutritional status. We point out that protein-rich foods, such as traditional legumes, nuts and seeds, are sufficient to achieve full protein adequacy in adults consuming vegetarian/vegan diets, while the question of any amino acid deficiency has been substantially overstated. Our review addresses the adequacy in changes to protein patterns in people newly transitioning to vegetarian diets. We also specifically address this in older adults, where the issues linked to the protein adequacy of vegetarian diets are more complex. This contrasts with the situation in children where there are no specific concerns regarding protein adequacy because of their very high energy requirements compared to those of protein. Given the growing shifts in recommendations from nutrition health professionals for people to transition to more plant-based, whole-food diets, additional scientific evidence-based communications confirming the protein adequacy of vegetarian and vegan diets is warranted.
摘要:
虽然动物产品含有丰富的蛋白质,素食/纯素饮食中的膳食蛋白质摄入量一直存在争议。在这次审查中,我们检查了西方国家成年人从素食饮食中摄入的蛋白质和氨基酸,并收集了蛋白质和氨基酸需求充足的信息,使用间接和直接数据来估计营养状况。我们指出富含蛋白质的食物,比如传统的豆类,坚果和种子,足以在食用素食/纯素饮食的成年人中实现完全的蛋白质充足,而任何氨基酸缺乏的问题都被夸大了。我们的评论解决了新过渡到素食饮食的人们蛋白质模式变化的充分性。我们还特别针对老年人,与素食饮食的蛋白质充足性相关的问题更加复杂。这与儿童的情况形成对比,在儿童中,由于与蛋白质相比,蛋白质的能量需求非常高,因此对蛋白质充足性没有特别的关注。鉴于营养健康专业人员对人们的建议越来越多地转向以植物为基础,全食饮食,有必要进行更多基于科学证据的沟通,以证实素食和纯素饮食的蛋白质充足性。