Practice Abstract - Research and innovation

Investigating the gut microbiome effects of replacing dietary animal protein with plant protein

Objective: A switch from consuming animal protein to plant protein instead offers considerable benefits for sustainability, and potentially also for consumer health. Excessive animal protein consumption in red meat affects the host directly, but there also indirect effects mediated by the gut microbiome. Here we first confirm the safety of microbiome-improved soil while meanwhile we test the effect on the gut microbiome of replacing red meat with tofu instead, using DNA sequencing technologies to investigate microbiome function.

Expected results:

  • We will confirm the absence of toxins in soy beans grown and harvested using natural soil microbes that improve plant health and resilience.
  • We will determine the effect of replacing animal protein in a typical Western diet with plant-derived protein delivered in a (soya-based) tofu, by measuring the composition, function and transcription of the microbiome. These cutting-edge omics methods will provide detailed insight into the microbiome.
  • We will determine the effect of the meat-tofu swap on chemicals in human blood produced by gut microbes, and the human body response, by measuring the metabolome in serum

 

Practical Implications:

  • Evidence basis for dietary protein replacement recommendations with special reference to long-term effects wrought by the activity of the gut microbiome
  • Data on how the composition of the microbiome changes when the protein source changes can inform consumer choices
  • Progress in distinguishing direct and indirect microbiome-host interaction

 

Main benefits:

  • Direct high-quality evidence from human studies, as distinct from laboratory in vitro trials, on diet-microbiome interaction

 

Source Project
Healthier diets and sustainable food and feed systems through employing microbiomes for soya production and further use
Ongoing | 2024-2028
Main funding source
Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Geographical location
Austria
Project details

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