The Effect of Plant-Based and Mycoprotein-Based Meat Substitute Consumption on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Intervention Trials

Background: Climate change is a serious threat to human wellbeing and development. Global reduction of meat intake key addressing climate other modern sustainability challenges. Plant-based mycoprotein-based substitutes are predicted play role in the intake; however, their impact on health unclear. The main objective this meta-analysis was assess short-term effects important cardiometabolic biomarkers (total cholesterol, TC; LDL-cholesterol, LDL-C; HDL-cholesterol, HDL-C; triglycerides, TG; systolic blood pressure, SBP; diastolic DBP; fasting glucose, FBG; weight) controlled clinical trials. Methods: Embase MEDLINE were searched identify trials with substitute interventions biomarker outcomes. Standardised mean differences TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, FBG, SBP, DBP, weight 95% confidence intervals pooled using random model. Risk bias, heterogeneity, sensitivity, publication bias assessed. Of 934 records identified, 12 studies met inclusion criteria. In analyses, consumption associated significantly lower TC (−0.50 mmol/L [95% CIs −0.70, −0.29]), LDL-C (−0.39 [−0.57, −0.21]), TG (−0.15 [−0.29, −0.01]), non-significantly FBG (−0.08 [−0.23, 0.08]), SBP (−0.32 [−1.79, 1.41]), (−0.12 [−1.52, 1.27]), higher HDL-C (0.01 [−0.02, 0.05]) DBP (0.49 [−0.30, 1.28]). There evidence some heterogeneity detected. certainty moderate for results, low very results. Conclusions: Replacement or all plant-based may TG.