Is a plant-based meal more filling than processed-meat meal in healthy, obese and diabetic men?

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a plant-based vegan meal versus a meat and cheese meal on gut hormones and satiety in healthy, obese, and med with type 2 diabetes. The main finding of the study is that there is an increase in gut hormones and satiety after a plant-based meal compared to a meat and cheese meal in these patients.

Obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), heart disease and some types of cancer. Treatment for obesity and T2D includes diet and lifestyle changes. There are hormones that are released in the gut that regulate glucose breakdown, energy, satiety (feeling of fullness after a meal) and weight management. These hormones are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), amylin and peptide YY (PYY). Different foods trigger the release of these hormones. Some studies indicate that red and processed meat is strongly associated with T2D. In contrast, people with plant-based diets have half the risk of T2D compared to non-vegetarians.

The effect of a plant-based meal on gut hormones and satiety compared to a meat-based meal is still unknown.

This study included 60 men: 20 men were obese (O), 20 were healthy (H) and 20 had T2D. All men fasted for 10-12 hours and then were delivered either a plant-based tofu burger (V-meal) or a meat and cheese burger (M-meal) with the same amount of calories and macronutrients. Gut hormones were measured by blood tests and satiety was self-reported before the mean, then at 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after meals.

After the V-meal, GLP-1 hormone increased by 30.5% in T2D and 15.8% in the H group. Amylin increased significantly in all 3 groups after the V-meal. However, PYY only significantly increased in the H group. Satiety was also greater in all groups after the V-meal (by 9% in T2D, by 18.7% in O and by 25% in H) compared to the M-meal.

The authors concluded that there was an increase in gut hormones and satiety after a plant-based meal compared with a meat and cheese meal in diabetic, obese and healthy men. The authors suggest that this finding can help in the prevention of T2D.

This study was very small. Larger studies are needed for more conclusive evidence.