Elk meat vs. Bison meat — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison

Calories

Compared to elk meat, bison has fewer calories. A hundred grams of elk provides 162 calories, while bison contains 143 calories.

Protein

Elk and bison are good sources of protein. However, elk contains a higher amount of all essential amino acids. 

Per 100-gram serving, elk contains 30.76 grams of protein, while bison contains 28.44 grams.

Fats

Compared to elk, bison has a lower fat content per hundred grams. A hundred grams of bison has 2.42g of total fat, whereas elk contains 3.41g. Elk provides slightly more monounsaturated and saturated fat, whereas bison has slightly higher polyunsaturated fats.

According to the study, the lipid composition of bison and elk muscle depends on their eating pattern. Compared to bison or beef cattle, elk had higher n-6 fatty acids; however, in semitendinosus (ST), animals raised on the range had higher (P < 0.01) n-6 fatty acids than animals kept in feedlots (1).

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison

Elk meat

1

:

2

Bison meat

Contains less Saturated Fat -32.2%

Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +49.1%

Equal in Monounsaturated Fat - 0.95

Elk meat

Saturated Fat: 1.342 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.97 g

Polyunsaturated fat: 0.161 g

Bison meat

Saturated Fat: 0.91 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.95 g

Polyunsaturated fat: 0.24 g

Contains less Saturated Fat -32.2%

Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +49.1%

Equal in Monounsaturated Fat - 0.95

Cholesterol

Compared to bison, elk has a lower cholesterol content. A 100g serving of elk meat contains 72mg of cholesterol, whereas bison meat provides 82mg.

Carbohydrates

Elk and bison meat are carb-free.

Vitamins

Overall, elk tends to be richer in most vitamins. Elk is a better source of B-group vitamins, including vitamins B1(thiamin), B2(riboflavin), B3(niacin), B5(pantothenic acid), B6(pyridoxine), and B12(cobalamin). Elk also has more vitamin E and folate, whereas bison has more vitamin K.

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

Elk meat

8

:

2

Bison meat

Contains more Vitamin E +52.8%

Contains more Vitamin B1 +44%

Contains more Vitamin B2 +37%

Contains more Vitamin B3 +65.6%

Contains more Vitamin B6 +21.3%

Contains more Folate +12.5%

Equal in Vitamin B12 - 2.86

Elk meat

Bison meat

Contains more Vitamin E +52.8%

Contains more Vitamin B1 +44%

Contains more Vitamin B2 +37%

Contains more Vitamin B3 +65.6%

Contains more Vitamin B6 +21.3%

Contains more Folate +12.5%

Equal in Vitamin B12 - 2.86

Minerals

Elk is high in iron, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, magnesium, and manganese while being lower in sodium. In contrast, bison is high in selenium and calcium. Moreover, bison has 115mg of choline.

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

Elk meat

8

:

2

Bison meat

Contains more Iron +19%

Contains more Magnesium +11.5%

Contains more Phosphorus +36.4%

Contains less Sodium -12.3%

Contains more Zinc +12%

Contains more Copper +226.2%

Contains more Manganese +137.5%

Contains more Calcium +60%

Contains more Selenium +238.1%

Equal in Potassium - 361

Elk meat

Bison meat

Contains more Iron +19%

Contains more Magnesium +11.5%

Contains more Phosphorus +36.4%

Contains less Sodium -12.3%

Contains more Zinc +12%

Contains more Copper +226.2%

Contains more Manganese +137.5%

Contains more Calcium +60%

Contains more Selenium +238.1%

Equal in Potassium - 361

Glycemic Index

Because elk and bison meat do not contain carbs, their glycemic index is 0. You can find more information about the glycemic index of foods here.

Acidity

The potential renal acid load (PRAL) is a way to determine the acidity of food. The PRAL values for elk and bison are 16.6 and 13.3, respectively. That shows that elk is significantly more acid-forming than bison.

Cardiovascular Health

Section reviewed by cardiologist Astghik Grigoryan

Consuming red meat, including elk and bison, whether unprocessed or processed, can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies have strongly suggested a correlation between red meat consumption and a higher risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. It's crucial to be aware of the potential health consequences of what we eat (3).

According to a study, consuming bison meat could lower the risk of atherosclerosis. It is worth noting that eating bison meat does not cause an increase in inflammation, oxidative stress, or a decrease in vascular function. Therefore, bison meat is a much healthier option compared to other types of red meat. However, further research is needed to obtain more current information (4).

Diabetes

The findings suggest that consuming more red, processed meat may raise the risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes in women (5).

Anemia

Red meat is the most common dietary source of heme iron. Elk has a higher iron content than bison meat. Iron deficiency is the most common reason of anemia globally. Frequently, the patient will have vague symptoms like exhaustion and dyspnea during physical activity (6).

Cancer

High consumption of red meat may raise the risk of colorectal, esophageal, gastric, and bladder cancer.

The findings indicate an increased risk of cancer in those who consume a lot of red and processed meat but not in those who eat a lot of white meat or chicken (7).