Heart Health
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes heart disease and stroke, is a major cause of premature mortality. In the UK, it is estimated that 7.6 million people are living with heart and circulatory diseases, causing around a quarter of all deaths in the UK each year.
Research consistently shows that lifestyle factors, including physical activity, smoking and diet can have a significant impact on cardiovascular health. In particular, a poor diet, over time, may lead to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke1. The good news is that some of the risk factors may be modified. Making specific dietary and lifestyle changes can lead to potential reductions in markers of cardiovascular disease risk, such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol2 with high LDL being a risk factor for CVD.
7.6 million
7.6 million people are living with heart and circulatory diseases, of which cause more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK. That’s one death every three minutes1.
Research Spotlight: Focus on Cholesterol
Quorn mycoprotein is high in fibre and protein, low in total and saturated fat and contains no cholesterol. It is also low in energy in comparison to animal protein sources. Reducing consumption of saturated fat contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels. This makes it a great addition to a healthy and balanced diet.
For over 35 years, Quorn has been conducting research on the health benefits of Quorn mycoprotein, collaborating with world-class academic institutions, such as the University of Exeter. Recent work has been examining Quorn mycoprotein’s beneficial impacts on cholesterol levels, building on earlier work by Turnbull et al. (1990) which showed that mycoprotein lowers blood lipids in mildly hypercholesterolaemic subjects3, 4.
These initial investigations indicated that Quorn mycoprotein consumption can lower circulating total and LDL cholesterol levels as well as increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
What does the science say about Quorn mycoprotein?
Two comprehensive papers5, 6 reviewing the 14 scientific studies specifically investigating the metabolic effects of Quorn mycoprotein have shown encouraging outcomes. Data indicates that Quorn mycoprotein can indeed lower circulating cholesterol concentrations, suggesting a potential key role to play in heart health.
In particular, a randomised controlled trial published in the British Journal of Nutrition showed that when consumed twice daily over one week,7 Quorn mycoprotein reduced levels of LDL cholesterol in healthy adults. In this study, participants were given a fully controlled diet containing two daily meals with either meat and fish or Quorn mycoprotein as the primary source of dietary protein. Participants’ glucose levels were monitored continuously throughout the week, and blood samples were taken before and after the intervention in order to track the effects of the different protein sources. Results showed a reduction in plasma levels of LDL, IDL (intermediate-density lipoprotein), HDL and VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) in subjects who consumed Quorn mycoprotein products compared to those who ate meat or fish. A decrease of up to 19% in plasma total cholesterol was reported in subjects who consumed Quorn mycoprotein. Furthermore, there was no significant change in blood sugar levels when eating meat and fish compared with Quorn mycoprotein, suggesting that a diet based on Quorn mycoprotein does not impact glycaemic control or insulin sensitivity as compared to animal proteins.
The authors suggest that the observed beneficial effects are likely to be due to the fibre composition of Quorn mycoprotein7. Around 80% of the fibre content in mycoprotein is present as beta glucan and beta glucan (albeit in a form of beta glucan with different glucan linkages) has been shown to reduce cholesterol. The presence of sterols may also play a role. Mechanisms to explain the beneficial effects of beta glucan are currently being explored, including the modulation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), inhibition of gut lipases (enzymes involved in fat digestion) and impaired cholesterol/bile absorption. Further research is needed but according to the evidence to date, mycoprotein appears to show great promise as a dietary component for metabolic health.
This study has demonstrated that the previously shown impact of mycoprotein consumption on lowering circulating cholesterol concentrations is rapid, and achievable with a very practical and feasible intervention (i.e. simply substituting meat for mycoprotein at main meals). However, these early changes in circulating cholesterol did not translate to changes in daily blood glucose control or insulin sensitivity, at least over this relatively short period (one week). It will be important to follow up this work and assess whether longer periods of habitual mycoprotein consumption translates to changes in robust markers of metabolic health, particularly in more metabolically compromised individuals.
Incorporating Quorn mycoprotein into a dietary plan for cholesterol management
Whilst a healthy diet, alongside other lifestyle factors, is important in preventing or minimising risk of cardiovascular disease, there is no one food or nutrient that can act as a silver bullet8.
Quorn® products can play a role in a healthy and balanced diet for vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters aiming for a more plant-based diet alike. Thanks to its meat-like texture, it’s easy to swap out meat for Quorn in family favourites such as Spaghetti Bolognese, Chilli or Tikka Curry.
Further resources and recipes to support cholesterol management are available from HEART UK The Cholesterol Charity, including a recipe for Quorn paella.
Want to find out more?
Whether you’re interested in incorporating Quorn mycoprotein into your diet or looking to support clients we have a range of resources for you. Our resources are free to browse, download and use and have been factchecked by our nutrition experts. Want to know what experts we work with? Click here to go to our dedicated Meet The Experts page.
NB.Any major dietary change should be supervised by a qualified healthcare professional.
Last updated February 2024. Next review due February 2025.
- 1 British Heart Foundation. (2022). Heart Statistics Publications. [online]. Available at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/our-research/heart-statistics/heart-statistics-publications.
- 2 British Heart Foundation. (2022). Risk Factors. [online]. Available at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-cholesterol.
- 3 Turnbull, W.H., Leeds, A.R. and Edwards, G.D. (1990). Effect of mycoprotein on blood lipids. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, [online] 52(4), pp.646–650. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2169701/.
- 4 Turnbull, W.H., Leeds, A.R. and Edwards, D.G. (1992). Mycoprotein reduces blood lipids in free-living subjects. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, [online] 55(2), pp.415–419. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1734679/.
- 5 Denny, A., Aisbitt, B. and Lunn, J. (2008). Mycoprotein and health. Nutrition Bulletin, [online] 33(4), pp.298–310. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-3010.2008.00730.x.
- 6 Coelho, M., Monteyne, A., Dunlop, M., Harris, H., Morrison, D., Stephens, F. and Wall, B. (2019). Quorn mycoprotein as a possible alternative source of dietary protein to support muscle and metabolic health. Nutrition Reviews. [online]. 78(6), pp.486-497. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/78/6/486/5678775.
- 7 Coelho, M., Monteyne, A., Dirks, M., Finnigan, T., Stephens, F. and Wall, B., 2020. Daily Quorn mycoprotein consumption for 1 week does not affect insulin sensitivity or glycaemic control but modulates the plasma lipidome in healthy adults: a randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Nutrition. [online]. pp.1-14. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114520002524.
- 8 NHS. (2018). Cardiovascular Disease. [online]. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiovascular-disease/.