A vegetarian diet has several potential benefits. People who eat a vegetarian diet tend to have lower total cholesterol levels, LDL cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and apolipoprotein B (ApoB).[1][2][3][4] There is also some evidence, although it is not consistent, that people who follow a vegetarian diet may have lower blood pressure.[5][1][6][7] These factors contribute to a lower risk for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and a lower risk for cerebrovascular disease, including stroke.[2]
There is some evidence showing that a vegetarian diet is associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.[8][9][10] It can also be used as an adjunct to standard treatment to further improve glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes, as it can lower fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels.[11][12][13][14] However, the evidence for a vegetarian diet for the treatment of diabetes is inconclusive, and it should not be used in isolation to treat type 2 diabetes.[15]
References
- ^Fernandes Dourado K, de Arruda Cámara E Siqueira Campos F, Sakugava Shinohara NKRelation between dietary and circulating lipids in lacto-ovo vegetarians.Nutr Hosp.(2011 Sep-Oct)
- ^Dinu M, Abbate R, Gensini GF, Casini A, Sofi FVegetarian, vegan diets and multiple health outcomes: A systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studiesCrit Rev Food Sci Nutr.(2017 Nov 22)
- ^Koch CA, Kjeldsen EW, Frikke-Schmidt RVegetarian or vegan diets and blood lipids: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.Eur Heart J.(2023-Jul-21)
- ^Wang F, Zheng J, Yang B, Jiang J, Fu Y, Li DEffects of Vegetarian Diets on Blood Lipids: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled TrialsJ Am Heart Assoc.(2015 Oct 27)
- ^Kai Wei Lee, Hong Chuan Loh, Siew Mooi Ching, Navin Kumar Devaraj, Fan Kee HooEffects of Vegetarian Diets on Blood Pressure Lowering: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential AnalysisNutrients.(2020 May 29)
- ^Yokoyama Y, Nishimura K, Barnard ND, Takegami M, Watanabe M, Sekikawa A, Okamura T, Miyamoto YVegetarian diets and blood pressure: a meta-analysis.JAMA Intern Med.(2014 Apr)
- ^Melgar B, Diaz-Arocutipa C, Huerta-Rengifo C, Piscoya A, Barboza JJ, Hernandez AVVegetarian diets on anthropometric, metabolic and blood pressure outcomes in people with overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Int J Obes (Lond).(2023-Oct)
- ^Yujin Lee, Kyong ParkAdherence to a Vegetarian Diet and Diabetes Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational StudiesNutrients.(2017 Jun 14)
- ^Serena Tonstad, Terry Butler, Ru Yan, Gary E FraserType of vegetarian diet, body weight, and prevalence of type 2 diabetesDiabetes Care.(2009 May)
- ^Rizzo NS, Sabaté J, Jaceldo-Siegl K, Fraser GEVegetarian dietary patterns are associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome: the adventist health study 2.Diabetes Care.(2011 May)
- ^Effie Viguiliouk, Cyril Wc Kendall, Hana Kahleová, Dario Rahelić, Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Vivian L Choo, Sonia Blanco Mejia, Sarah E Stewart, Lawrence A Leiter, David Ja Jenkins, John L SievenpiperEffect of Vegetarian Dietary Patterns on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled TrialsClin Nutr.(2019 Jun)
- ^Yoko Yokoyama, Neal D Barnard, Susan M Levin, Mitsuhiro WatanabeVegetarian diets and glycemic control in diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysisCardiovasc Diagn Ther.(2014 Oct)
- ^Pawlak RVegetarian Diets in the Prevention and Management of Diabetes and Its ComplicationsDiabetes Spectr.(2017 May)
- ^Kahleova H, Pelikanova TVegetarian Diets in the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.J Am Coll Nutr.(2015)
- ^Olubukola Ajala, Patrick English, Jonathan PinkneySystematic review and meta-analysis of different dietary approaches to the management of type 2 diabetesAm J Clin Nutr.(2013 Mar)