Beans vs. Beef

Is Reducing Red Meat Safe for Bone Health and Protein Intake?

By UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI 

The University of Helsinki’s study revealed that replacing some red and processed meat with pea and fava bean-based foods doesn’t jeopardize dietary amino acid intake or bone health. 

As plant-based diets rise in popularity, ensuring proper intake of calcium and vitamin D remains vital. Leg4Life, a related project, focuses on promoting a sustainable and healthier food system using legumes.

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

“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 fava 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.

BeanMan Study Overview

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

One group consumed 760 grams of red and processed meat per week, which accounted for 25% of the total protein intake. The amount corresponds to the average protein consumption of Finnish men.

The other group consumed food products based on legumes, mainly peas and fava beans, corresponding to 20% of the total protein intake. In addition, the amount of red and processed meat consumed per week in this group amounted to the upper limit of the Planetary Health Diet (200 g or 5% of the total protein intake).

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.

Study Results and Implications

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 essential amino acid and protein intakes met the recommendations in both groups.

“Reducing red meat consumption 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 meat consumption and the moderation of dairy consumption.

“In this study, the subjects consumed dairy products as in their habitual diets, thus their calcium and vitamin D intakes were unchanged. However, in terms of bone health, 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.

Upcoming Publications and Related Projects

Additional insights from the BeanMan study regarding lipid metabolism, gut health, and nutrient intakes are slated for future publication.

Reference: “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” by Suvi T. Itkonen, Piia Karhu, Tiina Pellinen, Mikko Lehtovirta, Niina E. Kaartinen, Satu Männistö, Essi Päivärinta and Anne-Maria Pajari, 10 July 2023, British Journal Of Nutrition.
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114523001514

Leg4Life (Legumes for Sustainable Food System and Healthy Life – Palkokasveilla kohti kestävää ruokajärjestelmää ja terveyttä) is a multidisciplinary project funded by the Strategic Research Council of the Academy of Finland. Leg4Life aims to achieve a comprehensive societal change towards a healthier food system and climate neutral food production and consumption by increasing the use of legumes. There are five extensive work packages in the project that cover the whole food chain from field to dinner table, all researching legumes that thrive in Finnish boreal conditions.