Study Links Low-Protein Diet to Reduced Cardiometabolic Disease Risk

Introduction to Proteins and Sulfur Amino Acids

A recent study has highlighted the benefits of a low-protein diet, particularly its strong association with a lower risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Proteins are composed of 20 different amino acids, with sulfur amino acids being a crucial subset that plays a vital role in maintaining overall health. The established nutritional requirements for total sulfur amino acids are set at 15 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day, while the recommended daily allowance is 19 milligrams per kilogram.

Previous Research on Sulfur Amino Acids

Prior animal studies have indicated that a decrease in sulfur amino acid intake could lead to increased life expectancy and a decrease in cardiometabolic diseases.

Study Overview

In the recent study, researchers examined data from 11,576 healthy participants in the United States, collected during a national survey conducted from 1988 to 1994. The participants were divided into five groups based on their total adjusted sulfur amino acid intake. The researchers gathered dietary information from the surveys to calculate a composite cardiometabolic disease risk score. This score, ranging from zero to 12—where 12 indicates the highest risk—was derived from various biomarkers, including blood pressure, kidney function tests, total cholesterol levels, triglycerides, insulin, blood sugar levels, hemoglobin, and C-reactive protein. The study also took into account additional factors that might influence sulfur amino acid intake, such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, alcohol consumption, and overall diet.

Findings on Sulfur Amino Acid Intake

The analysis revealed that intake of sulfur amino acids was significantly higher from animal proteins compared to plant sources such as vegetables, grains, fruits, and legumes. The researchers noted that many participants exceeded the recommended sulfur amino acid intake, which correlated with an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases. The results suggest that a diet lower in sulfur amino acids could potentially reduce the risk of developing these conditions. Dietary patterns linked to lower sulfur amino acid intake were predominantly associated with higher consumption of plant-derived proteins over meat-based sources.

Significance of the Study

Although the data analyzed was collected 26 years prior, this research marks the first exploration of the relationship between sulfur amino acid intake and the risk of cardiometabolic diseases in adults. The researchers emphasized that the findings might carry significant public health implications for the prevention of chronic diseases.

Author Information

This article was written by Manuel Bangsil, PharmD, MBA, BCMAS.

References

Matthews, C. (2009). On horizon 2050 – billions needed for agriculture. Retrieved 4 February 2020, from http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/36107/icode/
Dong, Z., Gao, X., Chinchilli, V., Sinha, R., Muscat, J., Winkels, R., & Richie, J. (2020). Association of sulfur amino acid consumption with cardiometabolic risk factors: Cross-sectional findings from NHANES III. Eclinicalmedicine, 100248. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2019.100248
Schindo, B. (2020). Lower protein diet may lessen risk for cardiovascular disease. Retrieved 3 February 2020, from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-02/ps-lpd0
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