Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
In a recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers conducted an umbrella review to assess whether diets free of animal-based food products and rich in plants or plant-based foods lowered the risks associated with cancer and cardiometabolic diseases and decreased the mortality risk.
Cardiovascular health and cancer risk associated with plant based diets: An umbrella review. Image Credit:Wild As Light/ Shutterstock
The two leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide are cancer and cardiovascular disease, and various studies have identified diet as one of the most important modifiable risk factors for these diseases. Research has also found that unhealthy diets characterized by an increased intake of salt, sugars, refined grains, and processed red meats and insufficient intake of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes also increase the mortality rate and result in higher disability-adjusted life years.
A vegan or vegetarian diet has been recommended by various health professions as a treatment for a wide range of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. The popularity of plant-based diets has also increased significantly in the face of growing concerns about the ethical treatment of animals, the state of the environment, and socio-economic inequalities.
However, given the substantial heterogeneity in study design, exposures, outcomes, and various other factors associated with assessing the efficacy of plant-based diets, opportunities to comprehensively assess their benefits in health and disease have been limited.
This umbrella review examined numerous systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and other reviews investigating the impact of diets free of animal products on the risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases and cancer and on lowering the mortality risk associated with these diseases among an all-inclusive study population.
This review considered plant-based diets, including veganism, ovo-vegetarians, lacto-vegetarians, and lacto-ovo-vegetarians. Gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status of the participants, or geographical origin of the study or participants were not considered grounds for excluding a study from the review. However, vegetarian diet regimens that limited but did not altogether avoid the consumption of poultry or fish were excluded to reduce heterogeneity among the studies.
Data obtained from the studies included the target population, type of diet, review type, and a wide range of clinical measurements such as levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterols, C-reactive protein, and apolipoprotein B. Measurements such as body weight, body mass index (BMI), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also extracted from the studies.
Additionally, information on the risk and types of cardiac events, gestational diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and gestational hypertension, as well as mortality due to cardiovascular disease or cancer, was obtained from included studies. The estimated risk was reported as a hazard ratio, odds ratio, or relative risk in all the included studies.
The review found that vegan and vegetarian diets were linked to significant improvements in glycemic control, lipid profiles, and BMI, as well as lowering inflammation and the risks of cancer and ischemic heart disease. The risk of cardiovascular disease-associated mortality was also found to be lower with vegetarian diets. However, among pregnant women, the risk of gestational hypertension or diabetes was not found to change in association with a vegetarian diet.
The findings suggested that vegan or vegetarian diets were linked to significantly lower LDL and total cholesterol levels, HbA1C, and fasting blood glucose levels compared to omnivorous diets. Furthermore, inflammation, based on serum levels of C-reactive protein, as well as body weight and BMI, was found to be lower in association with a plant-based diet than an omnivorous diet. However, the impact of vegan or vegetarian diets on triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and blood pressure remains unclear.
The researchers stated, however, that it can be assumed that many of the individuals following a plant-based diet also make other healthy lifestyle choices, such as avoiding or reducing tobacco, alcohol, or sugar-sweetened beverages and foods and exercising regularly, which could contribute to lowering the risk of ischemic heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases.
The risk of cancer was also found to be lower in association with vegetarian diets than with omnivorous diets. While the results were inconsistent when the analysis was stratified according to various types of cancer, the review found that the risk of gastrointestinal tract-related cancers was higher in association with diets rich in processed red meats. Furthermore, the lowering of hyperinsulinemia due to the increased consumption of whole grains and other plant-based foods could also potentially modify the risk of colorectal cancer.
Overall, the review reported that plant-based diets provided various benefits that lowered the risk of cancer, cardiometabolic disorders, and cardiovascular disease. However, given the high heterogeneity in study characteristics and findings on the benefits of plant-based diets, the researchers believe that these restrictive diet regimens must be recommended with caution.
Journal reference:
See the rest here:
Plant-based diets reduce cancer and heart disease risks, study shows - News-Medical.Net
Related Posts
- Heart Disease - April 10th, 2018 [April 10th, 2018]
- Heart and Cardiovascular Research - April 10th, 2018 [April 10th, 2018]
- Heart and Cardiovascular Research - iMedPub - May 22nd, 2018 [May 22nd, 2018]
- Heart Disease - A Closer Look at Stem Cell Treatments - May 27th, 2018 [May 27th, 2018]
- Heart Conferences | Heart Congress | Cardiology ... - June 26th, 2018 [June 26th, 2018]
- Heart disease - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic - September 21st, 2018 [September 21st, 2018]
- Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke | NIDDK - September 29th, 2018 [September 29th, 2018]
- - October 31st, 2018 [October 31st, 2018]
- Heart Disease - Closer Look at Stem Cells - November 15th, 2018 [November 15th, 2018]
- What is Heart Disease?, HHS, NIH, NHLBI - December 28th, 2018 [December 28th, 2018]
- Types of Heart Disease | Covenant HealthCare - December 30th, 2018 [December 30th, 2018]
- Heart Disease - Lab Tests Online - December 30th, 2018 [December 30th, 2018]
- Heart Diseases | Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center ... - December 30th, 2018 [December 30th, 2018]
- Heart Healthy Lifestyle - Prevent Heart Diseases - HeartCare - January 26th, 2019 [January 26th, 2019]
- Breast cancer most prevalent in Sabah - The Borneo Post - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Menopause and womens heart health - Udaipur Kiran - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Low Birth Weight Linked To Heart Problems In Adulthood: Study - News Nation - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Consuming Red Meat And Pork Linked To Heart Disease And Cancer - Peoria Observer - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Yes, we still need to cut down on red and processed meat - The Conversation AU - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- On oral contraceptive pills? You could be at risk of heart disease! - Times Now - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Rutgers researchers find heart valve infections increasing in hospitals - RU Daily Targum - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Most common warning symptoms of heart attack - Elets - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Adults Who Lost Teeth More Prone to Heart Attack, Stroke - SciTechDaily - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Heart and Stroke Foundation: 80% of heart attacks, strokes can be prevented - Northern Natal Courier - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Heart diseases on the rise: experts - newagebd.net - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Heart attack: Best diet to protect against the life-threatening condition - Express - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Women 'suffering and dying' because of inequalities in heart disease diagnosis and treatment - Holyrood - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- B'luru's air pollution contributing to heart diseases? Study finds drivers are at risk - The News Minute - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Alia Bhatt supports fundraising for kids with heart diseases: They are more positive than adults - India Today - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Reduce heart disease at the American Heart Associations Heart Walk - KXAN.com - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Losing teeth may not be a good sign, could be indicative of heart disease risk - Economic Times - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Tooth Loss Associated with Higher Risk of Heart Disease - Cath Lab Digest - October 6th, 2019 [October 6th, 2019]
- Heart failure is the silent killer you've been ignoring - Times of India - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- FDA awards 12 grants to fund new clinical trials to advance the development of medical products for the treatment of rare diseases - FDA.gov - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Daikon Radish: Types, Nutrition, Benefits, and Uses - Healthline - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Air Pollution May Affect Every Organ, Cell in the Body - Voice of America - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Less than 6 hours of sleep a night linked to increased risk of early death - NHS Website - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Disabled mum left in tears after DWP wrongly stopped all her benefits - Mirror Online - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- How to live longer: Best diet to boost your life expectancy - what to eat - Express - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Men Should Stop Drinking Six Months In Advance If They Plan to Be Fathers - AskMen - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Dr. Roach: Assessing the risks of secondhand cigarette smoke - The Detroit News - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- What is vascular disease? - Midland Daily News - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Fauna Bio Receives Grant From the National Institutes of Health to Advance Its Drug Repurposing Platform - BioSpace - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Bacon rashers, statistics, and controversy - The BMJ - The BMJ - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Why should you have semolina (suji) for weight loss - Times of India - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- 4 blind spots in the confusing debate about red meat - Inverse - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Inflammation Signs That Are Often Overlooked - msnNOW - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- MKRMS seminar: Experts stress regular exercise, healthy food for heart health - The News International - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Exercise, healthy food for heart health stressed - The News International - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- How to live longer: The superfood proven to boost brain and heart health - Express - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- People with mental disorder at high risk of heart diseases - Yahoo India News - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Do Women Need To Worry About Heart Disease? - Version Weekly - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Stroke rates continue decline in the U.S. - Reuters - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- 6 Foods That Can Help Protect You Against Life-Threatening Ailments - International Business Times - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Prevention of Heart Disease - The Sentinel Assam - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Tooth loss linked to higher risk of heart disease - The New Indian Express - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Performing HIIT Exercises Can Help Minimize The Risk Of Contracting A Heart Disease - International Business Times - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Heart disease: Best exercise to lower the risk of developing the deadly condition - Express - October 10th, 2019 [October 10th, 2019]
- Shropshire people left more than 343000 in wills to British Heart Foundation - shropshirestar.com - October 11th, 2019 [October 11th, 2019]
- Queen's Speech puts air pollution, science and the NHS on the agenda - British Heart Foundation - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- In a rural Wisconsin village, the doctor makes house calls and sees some of the rarest diseases on Earth - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- Treatment And Management Of Heart Disease During Pregnancy - Version Weekly - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- Severe dental diseases persist in S.D. due to chronic poverty and lack of access to dentists - KELO AM-FM - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- New York Ranks 25th In Nation In First-Ever Childhood Obesity Study - WAER - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- Saddleridge Fire Leads to Poor Air Quality, Tips on Staying Healthy - NBC Southern California - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- This country just became the first to ban ads for sugary drinks - WGAL Lancaster - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- Heart disease: Three dietary tips to keep the risks at bay - Express - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- Eating habits that can reverse heart disease - Daily Monitor - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- Hale and hearty: Tips to maintain good heart health - The New Indian Express - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- Exercise Is Especially Important For Those With Heart Disease - Anti Aging News - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- Exercise good for people with heart disease, other physical ailments - Al Bawaba - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- Should you eat red meat or not? A dietitian explains the latest nutrition science on meat, eggs and butter - NBC News - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- Rheumatic heart disease in Northern Territory 'a bloody health emergency' - The Guardian - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- PPMD Grants to Promote Gene Therapy for Heart Disease and Patient Outcomes Research - Muscular Dystrophy News - October 15th, 2019 [October 15th, 2019]
- University of Guelph researchers track how cats' weights change over time - Jill Lopez - October 20th, 2019 [October 20th, 2019]
- Study Shows That a 50% Pay Raise Lowers the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases by 15% - WORLD OF BUZZ - October 20th, 2019 [October 20th, 2019]
- Dog owners less likely to have cardiovascular diseases, and better chances of recovering from strokes or heart - MEAWW - October 20th, 2019 [October 20th, 2019]
- Keep your heart pumping - The New Indian Express - October 20th, 2019 [October 20th, 2019]
- How Can We Curb the Spread of Scientific Racism? - Scientific American - October 20th, 2019 [October 20th, 2019]
