Plant protein linked to slower biological aging and lower obesity risk

A large-scale study involving national cohorts from China, the United Kingdom, and the United States has identified a connection between plant protein intake and slower biological aging. Research published in Frontiers in Nutrition suggests that higher consumption of plant-based protein is associated with a lower risk of sarcopenic obesity—a condition characterized by the simultaneous increase in body fat and loss of muscle mass and function.

Participants with higher plant protein intake showed an average 14% lower risk of developing sarcopenic obesity. Notably, replacing just 5% of daily energy intake from animal protein with plant protein was linked to an approximately 34% reduction in risk, particularly among individuals with abdominal fat accumulation.

Regarding biological aging, measured via the PhenoAge indicator, higher plant protein density was associated with a deceleration of biological aging by between 0.81 and 0.88 years. Researchers emphasized that these findings indicate a statistical correlation rather than direct causation, and further studies are required to rule out other influencing factors.