A big examine discovered that animal protein will not be linked to larger mortality and will even assist decrease cancer-related deaths.
Consuming meals that include animal protein will not be related to a better probability of loss of life and will even present some safety in opposition to cancer-related mortality, in keeping with new analysis.
The findings, revealed in Utilized Physiology, Vitamin, and Metabolism, are based mostly on an evaluation of knowledge from almost 16,000 adults aged 19 and older who participated within the Nationwide Well being and Vitamin Examination Survey (NHAMES III).
Researchers checked out how a lot animal and plant protein members consumed and in contrast these patterns with their threat of dying from most cancers, coronary heart illness, or any trigger. The outcomes revealed no elevated threat of loss of life linked to better animal protein consumption. As a substitute, the info pointed to a small however significant lower in cancer-related deaths amongst individuals who consumed extra animal protein.
“There’s a number of confusion round protein – how a lot to eat, what type and what it means for long-term well being. This examine provides readability, which is necessary for anybody making an attempt to make knowledgeable, evidence-based choices about what they eat,” explains Stuart Phillips, Professor and Chair of the Division of Kinesiology at McMaster College, who supervised the analysis.
Making certain Dependable Outcomes
To make sure dependable outcomes, the staff employed superior statistical strategies, together with the Nationwide Most cancers Institute (NCI) technique and multivariate Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) modelling, to estimate long-term dietary consumption and reduce measurement error.
“It was crucial that our evaluation used essentially the most rigorous, gold commonplace strategies to evaluate ordinary consumption and mortality threat. These strategies allowed us to account for fluctuations in day by day protein consumption and supply a extra correct image of long-term consuming habits,” says Phillips.
The researchers discovered no associations between whole protein, animal protein, or plant protein and threat of loss of life from any trigger, cardiovascular disease, or cancer. When both plant and animal protein were included in the analysis, the results remained consistent, suggesting that plant protein has a minimal impact on cancer mortality, while animal protein may offer a small protective effect.
Broader Implications
Observational studies like this one cannot prove cause and effect; however, they are valuable for identifying patterns and associations in large populations. Combined with decades of clinical trial evidence, the findings support the inclusion of animal proteins as part of a healthy dietary pattern.
“When both observational data like this and clinical research are considered, it’s clear both animal and plant protein foods promote health and longevity,” says lead researcher Yanni Papanikolaou, MPH, president, Nutritional Strategies.
Reference: “Animal and plant protein usual intakes are not adversely associated with all-cause, cardiovascular disease–, or cancer-related mortality risk: an NHANES III analysis” by Yanni Papanikolaou, Stuart M. Phillips and Victor L. Fulgoni III, 16 July 2025, Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.
DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2023-0594
This research was funded by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff. NCBA was not involved in the study design, data collection and analysis or publication of the findings.
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