Dietary protein consumption profiles show contrasting impacts on environmental and health indicators
Authors: Perraud Elie , Wang Juhui , Salomé Marion , Mariotti François , Kesse-Guyot Emmanuelle 
Published: July 2022

Patterns of protein intake are strong characteristics of diets, and protein sources have been linked to the environmental and nutrition/health impacts of diets. However, few studies have worked on protein profiles, and most of them have focused on specific diets like vegetarian or vegan diets. Furthermore, the description of the environmental impact of diets has often been limited to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) and land use. This paper analyzes the alignment of environmental pressures and nutritional impacts in a diversity of representative protein profiles of a western population.

Using data from a representative survey in France (INCA3, n = 1,125), we identified protein profiles using hierarchical ascendant classification on protein intake (g) from main protein sources (refined grains, whole grains, dairy, eggs, ruminant meat, poultry, pork, processed meat, fish, fruits & vegetables, pulses). We assessed their diet quality using 6 dietary scores, including assessment of long-term risk for health, and associated 14 environmental pressure indicators using the Agribalyse database completed by the SHARP database for GHGe.

Five protein profiles were identified according to the high contributions of ruminant meat, pork, poultry, fish, or, conversely, as low contribution from meat. The profile including the lowest protein from meat had the lowest impact on almost all environmental indicators and had the lowest long-term risk. Conversely, the profile with high protein from ruminant-based foods had the highest pressures on most environmental indicators, including GHGe.

We found that the protein profile with low contribution from meat has great potential for human health and environment preservation. Shifting a large part of the population toward this profile could be an easy first step toward building a more sustainable diet.

Graphical abstract

Environmental pressure by profile

All data are in percentage compared to the mean value of the population. GHG is the emission of greenhouse gases measured in kg CO2 eq. The ozone depletion is in kg CFC-11eq. The photochemical ozone formation is in kg of Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds eq. Particulate matter is in kg of PM2.5emitted. The acidification is in mol H+ eq. The terrestrial eutrophication is in mol N eq, the freshwater eutrophication is in kg P eq, and the marine eutrophication is in kg N eq. The freshwater ecotoxicity is based on the USEtox model. Land use is in kg C deficit, water use in m3, fossils resource use in MJ, and Metals and minerals use in kg SB eq.

Nutritional and health indicators by profile

All data are in percentage of difference to the mean value of the population. The HiDiet was used to assess the diet impact on long-term mortality and morbidity (variation between -1 and 1). The Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI-2010) is a modified Healthy Eating Index, assessing the adherence to Dietary Guidelines for Americans, improving target food choices and macronutrient sources associated with reduced chronic disease risk (maxpoint = 100). The PANDiet evaluates the probability of adequate nutrient intake (maxpoint = 100). The SecDiet evaluates the nutrient risk of overt deficiency (maxpoint = 1). The Literature-Based Adherence Score to the Mediterranean Diet (LAMD) assesses adherence to the Mediterranean diet (maxpoint = 16). sPNNS-GS2 the adherence to the French Food-based Dietary Guidelines (maxpoint = 10.5).