Increased consumption of plant-based food and limiting meat may improve heart health, finds study

Key findings from the study are:

· Compared to omnivores, Flexitarians and vegans had more beneficial insulin levels, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol.

· Flexitarians had the most favourable MetS-score results based on BMI and waistline and better PWV values compared to vegans and omnivores.

· FXs and Vs had higher intake rates of vegetables, fruit, nuts/seeds and plant-based milk alternatives.

Diet impacts CVD risk. Meat and processed meat intake correlate with an unfavourable risk profile.

Study limitations include cross-sectional design, small sample size, and potential recall bias.

Study strengths include well-controlled design, homogeneity, and additional CVD risk indicators such as MetS scores and PWV.

This study highlights that plant-based diets improve blood lipid profiles and have higher diet quality. The results of this study demonstrate the beneficial impact of a flexitarian diet on CVD risk parameters.

Reference:

Bruns, A., Greupner, T., Nebl, J. et al. Plant-based diets and cardiovascular risk factors: a comparison of flexitarians, vegans and omnivores in a cross-sectional study. BMC Nutr 10, 29 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-024-00839-9