Ong, K. S., Lim, P. Y., Ng, F. S. K., Sim, H. Y., Chiang, J. H., & Ng, G. C. F. (2025). A comparative analysis of macronutrient digestibility in animal and alternative meat products for the Asian market. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 139, 107171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2024.107171
Abstract:
An in-vitro digestion study compared the macronutrient composition and digestibility of three
commonly consumed Asian meats (pork, chicken, and fish) with their corresponding meat alternatives.
The digesta was analysed to determine protein, lipid, and carbohydrate digestibility. For protein
quality, the limiting amino acids of the animal-based products were valine, while those of alternative
meat products were methionine and cysteine. Animal-based products had a higher content of
essential amino acids and a better overall protein quality score than their alternative meat
counterparts, especially for pork and chicken. Alternative meat products generally had higher levels
of polyunsaturated fats, including linoleic acid and α-linoleic acid, than animal meat products.
However, some essential fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, were less bioaccessible in the
alternative meat products. While inherent low carbohydrate content in whole-muscle meats
minimised the impact of starch digestibility, alternative processed meat products exhibited
significantly lower digestibility. This decrease was attributed to the presence of fibre, which interacted
with starches and hindered enzyme accessibility. These findings provide valuable insights into the
nutritional quality and overall health implications of consuming alternative meat products. This also
highlights the areas for improvement in developing these products to provide a more balanced and
bioavailable source of nutrients.
License type:
Publisher Copyright
Funding Info:
This research / project is supported by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Biomedical Research Council - Singapore Food Story 2 - Industry Alignment Fund - Pre-Positioning - Future Foods: Alternative Proteins
Grant Reference no. : H20H8a0002