British Journal of Nutrition

Table of Contents - 14 April 2011 - Volume 105, Issue 07  

Behaviour, Appetite and Obesity

Plant and animal protein intake and its association with overweight and obesity among the Belgian population

Yi Lina1, Selin Bolcaa2, Stefanie Vandevijverea3, Stephanie De Vriesea4, Theodora Mouratidoua5, Melissa De Nevea1, Anja Poleta1, Herman Van Oyena3, John Van Campa6, Guy De Backera1, Stefaan De Henauwa1a7 and Inge Huybrechtsa1 c1

a1 Unit of Nutrition and Food Safety, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, UZ – 2 Blok A, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

a2 Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

a3 Unit of Epidemiology, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium

a4 Alpro Foundation vzw, Vlamingstraat 28, 8560 Wevelgem, Belgium

a5 GENUD (Growth, Exercise, NUtrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, C/Corona de Aragon 42, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain

a6 Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

a7 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Care Vesalius, University College Ghent, Keramiekstraat 80, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to assess animal and plant protein intakes in the Belgian population and to examine their relationship with overweight and obesity (OB). The subjects participated in the Belgian National Food Consumption Survey conducted in 2004. Food consumption was assessed by using two non-consecutive 24 h dietary recalls. About 3083 participants ( ≥ 15 years of age; 1546 males, 1537 females) provided completed dietary information. Animal protein intake (47 g/d) contributed more to total protein intakes of 72 g/d than plant protein intake, which accounted for 25 g/d. Meat and meat products were the main contributors to total animal protein intakes (53 %), whereas cereals and cereal products contributed most to plant protein intake (54 %). Males had higher animal and plant protein intakes than females (P < 0·001). Legume and soya protein intakes were low in the whole population (0·101 and 0·174 g/d, respectively). In males, animal protein intake was positively associated with BMI (β = 0·013; P = 0·001) and waist circumference (WC; β = 0·041; P = 0·002). Both in males and females, plant protein intake was inversely associated with BMI (males: β = − 0·036; P < 0·001; females: β = − 0·046; P = 0·001) and WC (male: β = − 0·137; P < 0·001; female: β = − 0·096; P = 0·024). In conclusion, plant protein intakes were lower than animal protein intakes among a representative sample of the Belgian population and decreased with age. Associations with anthropometric data indicated that plant proteins could offer a protective effect in the prevention of overweight and OB in the Belgian population.

(Received May 18 2010)

(Revised September 23 2010)

(Accepted October 14 2010)

(Online publication December 09 2010)

Key Words:

Correspondence:

c1 Corresponding author: Dr I. Huybrechts, fax +32 9 332 4994, email inge.huybrechts@ugent.be

Footnotes

Abbreviations: OB, obesity; OW, overweight; WC, waist circumference