Cardiovascular disease mortality and cancer incidence in vegetarians: a meta-analysis and systematic review
Ann Nutr Metab. 2012;60(4):233-40.
doi: 10.1159/000337301.
Epub 2012 Jun 1.
Authors
Tao Huang 1, Bin Yang, Jusheng Zheng, Guipu Li, Mark L Wahlqvist, Duo Li
Affiliation
●1Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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PMID:
22677895
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DOI:
10.1159/000337301
Abstract
Background:
Prospective cohort studies have examined mortality and overall cancer incidence among vegetarians, but the results have been inconclusive.
Aims:
The objective of the present meta-analysis was to investigate cardiovascular disease mortality and cancer incidence among vegetarians and nonvegetarians.
Methods:
Medline, EMBASE and Web Of Science databases were searched for cohort studies published from inception to September 2011. Studies were included if they contained the relative risk (RR) and corresponding 95% CI. Participants were from the UK, Germany, California, USA, the Netherlands and Japan.
Results:
Seven studies with a total of 124,706 participants were included in this analysis. All-cause mortality in vegetarians was 9% lower than in nonvegetarians (RR = 0.91; 95% CI, 0.66-1.16). The mortality from ischemic heart disease was significantly lower in vegetarians than in nonvegetarians (RR = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56-0.87). We observed a 16% lower mortality from circulatory diseases (RR = 0.84; 95% CI, 0.54-1.14) and a 12% lower mortality from cerebrovascular disease (RR = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.70-1.06) in vegetarians compared with nonvegetarians. Vegetarians had a significantly lower cancer incidence than nonvegetarians (RR = 0.82; 95% CI, 0.67-0.97).
Conclusions:
Our results suggest that vegetarians have a significantly lower ischemic heart disease mortality (29%) and overall cancer incidence (18%) than nonvegetarians.
Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Publication types
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Meta-Analysis
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
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Systematic Review
MeSH terms
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California / epidemiology
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Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality*
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Databases, Factual
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Diet, Vegetarian*
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Germany / epidemiology
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Humans
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Incidence
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Japan / epidemiology
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Neoplasms / mortality*
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Netherlands / epidemiology
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United Kingdom / epidemiology