Protein intake and body weight, fat mass and waist circumference: an umbrella review of systematic reviews for the evidence-based guideline on protein intake of the German Nutrition Society

Ellinger S, Amini AM, Haardt J, Lehmann A, Schmidt A, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Buyken AE, Kroke A, Kühn T, Louis S, Lorkowski S, Nimptsch K, Schulze MB, Schwingshackl L, Siener R, Stangl GI, Volkert D, Zittermann A, Watzl B, Egert S (2024)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Book Volume: 63

Pages Range: 3-32

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1007/s00394-023-03220-x

Abstract

Purpose: This umbrella review aimed to assess whether dietary protein intake with regard to quantitative (higher vs. lower dietary protein intake) and qualitative considerations (total, plant-based or animal-based protein intake) affects body weight (BW), fat mass (FM) and waist circumference (WC). Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for systematic reviews (SRs) with and without meta-analyses of prospective studies published between 04 October 2007 and 04 January 2022. Methodological quality and outcome-specific certainty of evidence of the retrieved SRs were assessed by using AMSTAR 2 and NutriGrade, respectively, in order to rate the overall certainty of evidence using predefined criteria. Results: Thirty-three SRs were included in this umbrella review; 29 were based on randomised controlled trials, a few included cohort studies. In studies without energy restriction, a high-protein diet did not modulate BW, FM and WC in adults in general (all “possible” evidence); for older adults, overall certainty of evidence was “insufficient” for all parameters. Under hypoenergetic diets, a high-protein diet mostly decreased BW and FM, but evidence was “insufficient” due to low methodological quality. Evidence regarding an influence of the protein type on BW, FM and WC was “insufficient”. Conclusion: “Possible” evidence exists that the amount of protein does not affect BW, FM and WC in adults under isoenergetic conditions. Its impact on the reduction in BW and FM under hypoenergetic conditions remains unclear; evidence for an influence of protein type on BW, FM and WC is “insufficient”.

Involved external institutions

Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin / Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Bonn Germany (DE) Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) Germany (DE) Herz- und Diabeteszentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany (DE) Max-Rubner-Institut - Bundesforschungsinstitut für Ernährung und Lebensmittel Germany (DE) Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn Germany (DE) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung e.V. Germany (DE) Universitätsspital Zürich (USZ) Switzerland (CH) Universität Paderborn Germany (DE) Hochschule Fulda Germany (DE) Queen's University United Kingdom (GB) Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena Germany (DE) Deutsches Institut für Ernährungsforschung (DIfE) Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Freiburg Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Ellinger, S., Amini, A.M., Haardt, J., Lehmann, A., Schmidt, A., Bischoff-Ferrari, H.A.,... Egert, S. (2024). Protein intake and body weight, fat mass and waist circumference: an umbrella review of systematic reviews for the evidence-based guideline on protein intake of the German Nutrition Society. European Journal of Nutrition, 63(1), 3-32. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00394-023-03220-x

MLA:

Ellinger, Sabine, et al. "Protein intake and body weight, fat mass and waist circumference: an umbrella review of systematic reviews for the evidence-based guideline on protein intake of the German Nutrition Society." European Journal of Nutrition 63.1 (2024): 3-32.

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