Animal protein does not raise mortality risk

A large epidemiological analysis using data from nearly 16,000 adults found that consuming animal-derived protein does not increase the risk of death from any cause, heart disease, or cancer, and may be modestly linked with lower cancer mortality when both animal and plant proteins are considered together. The study, conducted with rigorous statistical methods and based on NHANES III data from the late 1980s to early 1990s, adds nuance to the debate over whether animal or plant proteins are healthier in the long term.

Researchers examined usual patterns of protein intake from both animal and plant sources and tracked mortality outcomes over time. They employed advanced techniques to estimate long-term intake more accurately, addressing fluctuations in daily diet. The team found no associations between total protein, animal protein, or plant protein and risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, or cancer mortality. When analyses included both protein sources, the results remained consistent, with animal protein linked to a possible small protective effect against cancer-related deaths and plant protein showing no significant impact on cancer mortality.