Cargando…

Effects of Insect Consumption on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Human Studies

Insects have been consumed as food in diverse cultures worldwide, gaining recognition as a sustainable and nutritious food source. This systematic review aims to update information on the impact of insect consumption on human health based on human randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and allergenicit...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Cunha, Nair, Andrade, Vanda, Ruivo, Paula, Pinto, Paula
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10386438/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37513494
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu15143076
_version_ 1785081665125613568
author Cunha, Nair
Andrade, Vanda
Ruivo, Paula
Pinto, Paula
author_facet Cunha, Nair
Andrade, Vanda
Ruivo, Paula
Pinto, Paula
author_sort Cunha, Nair
collection PubMed
description Insects have been consumed as food in diverse cultures worldwide, gaining recognition as a sustainable and nutritious food source. This systematic review aims to update information on the impact of insect consumption on human health based on human randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and allergenicity assessment studies. Following PRISMA guidelines, studies published in the last 10 years were analyzed. From one-thousand and sixty-three retrieved references, nine RCTs and five allergenicity studies were analyzed. Post-prandial amino acid levels increased after insect protein consumption. In comparison with other protein sources, insect protein showed no significant differences in the area under the curve (AUC) values for essential amino acids but tended to have lower peaks and peak later. In terms of muscle protein synthesis, there were no significant differences between insect protein and other protein sources. Glucose levels did not differ; however, insulin levels were lower after the consumption of insect-based products. The effects on inflammatory markers and microbiota composition were inconclusive and the studies did not show significant effects on appetite regulation. Allergenicity assessments revealed a sensitisation and cross-reactivity between insect allergens and known allergens. A partial reduction of cross-allergenicity was observed via thermal processing. Insect protein is an adequate protein source with promising health benefits; however, further research is needed to fully understand its potential and optimise its inclusion into the human diet.
format Online
Article
Text
id pubmed-10386438
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2023
publisher MDPI
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-103864382023-07-30 Effects of Insect Consumption on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Human Studies Cunha, Nair Andrade, Vanda Ruivo, Paula Pinto, Paula Nutrients Review Insects have been consumed as food in diverse cultures worldwide, gaining recognition as a sustainable and nutritious food source. This systematic review aims to update information on the impact of insect consumption on human health based on human randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and allergenicity assessment studies. Following PRISMA guidelines, studies published in the last 10 years were analyzed. From one-thousand and sixty-three retrieved references, nine RCTs and five allergenicity studies were analyzed. Post-prandial amino acid levels increased after insect protein consumption. In comparison with other protein sources, insect protein showed no significant differences in the area under the curve (AUC) values for essential amino acids but tended to have lower peaks and peak later. In terms of muscle protein synthesis, there were no significant differences between insect protein and other protein sources. Glucose levels did not differ; however, insulin levels were lower after the consumption of insect-based products. The effects on inflammatory markers and microbiota composition were inconclusive and the studies did not show significant effects on appetite regulation. Allergenicity assessments revealed a sensitisation and cross-reactivity between insect allergens and known allergens. A partial reduction of cross-allergenicity was observed via thermal processing. Insect protein is an adequate protein source with promising health benefits; however, further research is needed to fully understand its potential and optimise its inclusion into the human diet. MDPI 2023-07-08 /pmc/articles/PMC10386438/ /pubmed/37513494 http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu15143076 Text en © 2023 by the authors. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
spellingShingle Review
Cunha, Nair
Andrade, Vanda
Ruivo, Paula
Pinto, Paula
Effects of Insect Consumption on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Human Studies
title Effects of Insect Consumption on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Human Studies
title_full Effects of Insect Consumption on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Human Studies
title_fullStr Effects of Insect Consumption on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Human Studies
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Insect Consumption on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Human Studies
title_short Effects of Insect Consumption on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Human Studies
title_sort effects of insect consumption on human health: a systematic review of human studies
topic Review
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10386438/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37513494
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu15143076
work_keys_str_mv AT cunhanair effectsofinsectconsumptiononhumanhealthasystematicreviewofhumanstudies
AT andradevanda effectsofinsectconsumptiononhumanhealthasystematicreviewofhumanstudies
AT ruivopaula effectsofinsectconsumptiononhumanhealthasystematicreviewofhumanstudies
AT pintopaula effectsofinsectconsumptiononhumanhealthasystematicreviewofhumanstudies