Dietary protein considerations in a sustainable and ageing world: a narrative review with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions and skeletal muscle remodelling and maintenance
Abstract The rise in interest of plant-based protein foods has been meteoric, often leading to calls to adopt exclusively plant-based diets to reduce the intake of animal-based foods. In addition to impacts on human health, moving to an exclusively plant-based (or indeed animal-based) diet may have...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-07945-6 |
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| author | Paul T. Morgan Brian P. Carson Oliver C. Witard |
| author_facet | Paul T. Morgan Brian P. Carson Oliver C. Witard |
| author_sort | Paul T. Morgan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The rise in interest of plant-based protein foods has been meteoric, often leading to calls to adopt exclusively plant-based diets to reduce the intake of animal-based foods. In addition to impacts on human health, moving to an exclusively plant-based (or indeed animal-based) diet may have detrimental implications in terms of environmental sustainability. The impact of a rapid growth in global population on the sustainability of food systems poses clear consequences for the environment and thus warrants careful consideration at a national and, in some cases, global level. The requirement for high-quality dietary protein in an ageing population to offset chronic disease, such as sarcopenia, is an additional consideration. A reductionist approach to this sustainability issue is to advise a global population switch to plant-based diets. From a dietary protein perspective, the sustainability of different non-animal-derived protein sources is a complex issue. In this review, first we describe the role of dietary protein in combatting the age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass. Next, we explore the efficacy and sustainability of protein sources beyond animal-based proteins to facilitate skeletal muscle remodelling in older age. Taking a holistic approach, we discuss protein sources in terms of the muscle anabolic potential, environmental considerations with a predominant focus on greenhouse gas emissions across the food chain, the relevance of global malnutrition, and nation- and local-specific nutritional needs for dietary protein choices and food systems. Finally, we discuss implications for environmental sustainability and explore the potential of a trade-off between diet quality and environmental sustainability with food choices and recommendations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ffb47b86c9224fcdb66dfdcd0813a67b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2474 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
| spelling | doaj-art-ffb47b86c9224fcdb66dfdcd0813a67b2024-12-22T12:07:21ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742024-12-0125111410.1186/s12891-024-07945-6Dietary protein considerations in a sustainable and ageing world: a narrative review with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions and skeletal muscle remodelling and maintenancePaul T. Morgan0Brian P. Carson1Oliver C. Witard2Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sport, 99 Oxford Road, Manchester Metropolitan UniversityDepartment of Physical Education & Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of LimerickCentre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College LondonAbstract The rise in interest of plant-based protein foods has been meteoric, often leading to calls to adopt exclusively plant-based diets to reduce the intake of animal-based foods. In addition to impacts on human health, moving to an exclusively plant-based (or indeed animal-based) diet may have detrimental implications in terms of environmental sustainability. The impact of a rapid growth in global population on the sustainability of food systems poses clear consequences for the environment and thus warrants careful consideration at a national and, in some cases, global level. The requirement for high-quality dietary protein in an ageing population to offset chronic disease, such as sarcopenia, is an additional consideration. A reductionist approach to this sustainability issue is to advise a global population switch to plant-based diets. From a dietary protein perspective, the sustainability of different non-animal-derived protein sources is a complex issue. In this review, first we describe the role of dietary protein in combatting the age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass. Next, we explore the efficacy and sustainability of protein sources beyond animal-based proteins to facilitate skeletal muscle remodelling in older age. Taking a holistic approach, we discuss protein sources in terms of the muscle anabolic potential, environmental considerations with a predominant focus on greenhouse gas emissions across the food chain, the relevance of global malnutrition, and nation- and local-specific nutritional needs for dietary protein choices and food systems. Finally, we discuss implications for environmental sustainability and explore the potential of a trade-off between diet quality and environmental sustainability with food choices and recommendations.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-07945-6AgeingClimate changeMuscleProteinProtein qualitySustainability |
| spellingShingle | Paul T. Morgan Brian P. Carson Oliver C. Witard Dietary protein considerations in a sustainable and ageing world: a narrative review with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions and skeletal muscle remodelling and maintenance BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Ageing Climate change Muscle Protein Protein quality Sustainability |
| title | Dietary protein considerations in a sustainable and ageing world: a narrative review with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions and skeletal muscle remodelling and maintenance |
| title_full | Dietary protein considerations in a sustainable and ageing world: a narrative review with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions and skeletal muscle remodelling and maintenance |
| title_fullStr | Dietary protein considerations in a sustainable and ageing world: a narrative review with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions and skeletal muscle remodelling and maintenance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dietary protein considerations in a sustainable and ageing world: a narrative review with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions and skeletal muscle remodelling and maintenance |
| title_short | Dietary protein considerations in a sustainable and ageing world: a narrative review with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions and skeletal muscle remodelling and maintenance |
| title_sort | dietary protein considerations in a sustainable and ageing world a narrative review with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions and skeletal muscle remodelling and maintenance |
| topic | Ageing Climate change Muscle Protein Protein quality Sustainability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-07945-6 |
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