Protein valuation is positively associated with habitual intake of protein of animal origin in a sample of French adults

Balancing our dietary intakes in favour of plant protein sources would reduce overall protein intake. Low-protein diets have shown to reinforce specific appetite for protein. The role of protein appetite as a determinant of the choice of specific protein sources in free-living humans has not been extensively studied, and the relationship between the strength of protein appetite and the amount of protein from various dietary sources has not yet been quantified. We used an on-line questionnaire to measure the association between habitual intakes of principal protein sources and protein valuation in a cohort of healthy French meat-eating adults, aged between 18 and 65 years. Protein valuation is the propensity to systematically prefer foods that are higher in protein and is measured using a 2-alternative forced-choice task. Participants (final sample: N = 86) who had higher habitual intakes of protein displayed a significantly higher protein valuation. There was a significant positive association between protein valuation and intakes of various food groups of animal origin, especially meat, while this association between protein valuation and intake of plant-based foods was negative and significant. Our study suggests that protein valuation may be a determinant of preferences for protein and specific protein sources. Nutritional determinants of protein preferences should be taken into account in the context of a population-wide shift to more plant-based diets in order to facilitate this shift for all.