Plant-based dietary patterns are associated with improved cardiometabolic health, but causal dietary components are unclear. Protein has been proposed to play a role, but the importance of protein quantity versus quality remains unknown. We investigated the contributions of total protein amount, amino acid (AA) composition, and plant versus animal source. Analysis of total protein and AA composition of food items and dietary patterns revealed differences between individual food items, but few differences between AA profiles of vegan versus omnivorous dietary patterns. Effects of protein quantity, but not quality, on cardiometabolic health markers were observed in mice using semi-purified diets with crystalline AAs in plant versus animal-based ratios and naturally sourced diets with whole-food ingredients. Our data show relatively little difference in protein quality between plant-based and omnivorous dietary patterns and that reduced total protein intake in plant-based dietary patterns may be a contributor to the benefits of plant-based diets.

以植物为基础的饮食模式与改善心脏代谢健康有关，但因果饮食成分尚不清楚。蛋白质已被提议发挥作用，但蛋白质数量与质量的重要性仍然未知。我们调查了总蛋白质含量、氨基酸 (AA) 组成以及植物与动物来源的贡献。对食物和饮食模式的总蛋白质和 AA 组成的分析揭示了个体食物之间的差异，但素食与杂食饮食模式的 AA 谱之间几乎没有差异。在小鼠中观察到蛋白质数量而非质量对心脏代谢健康标志物的影响，这些小鼠使用具有植物与动物比例的结晶 AA 的半纯化饮食以及含有全食物成分的天然来源饮食。