Urinary metabolomics signature of animal and plant protein intake and its association with 24-h blood pressure: the African-PREDICT study

The contrasting relationships of plant and animal protein intake with blood pressure (BP) may be partially attributed to the differential non-protein (e.g., saturated fat and fibre) and amino acid (AA) compositions. This study determined whether animal and plant protein intake were related to differential metabolomic profiles associated with BP. This study included 1008 adults from the African-PREDICT study (aged 20–30 years). Protein intake was determined using 24-h dietary recalls. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory BP was measured. Amino acids and acylcarnitines were analysed in spot urine samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Participants with a low plant, high animal protein intake had higher SBP (by 3 mmHg, p = 0.011) than those with high plant, low animal protein intake (low-risk group). We found that the relationships of plant and animal protein intake with 24-h SBP were partially mediated by BMI and saturated fat intake, which were independently associated with SBP. Protein intake was therefore not related to SBP in multiple regression analysis after adjusting for confounders. In the low-risk group, methionine (Std. β = −0.217; p = 0.034), glutamic acid (Std. β = −0.220; p = 0.031), glycine (Std. β = −0.234; p = 0.025), and proline (Std. β = −0.266; p = 0.010) were inversely related to SBP, and beta-alanine (Std. β = −0.277; p = 0.020) to DBP. Ultimately a diet high in animal and low in plant protein intake may contribute to higher BP by means of increased BMI and saturated fat intake. Conversely, higher levels of urinary AAs observed in adults consuming a plant rich diet may contribute to lower BP.

Michel Strauss-Kruger, Marlien Pieters, Tertia van Zyl, Ruan Kruger, Adriaan Jacobs, Esmé Jansen van Vuren, Roan Louw, Carina Mels