Effect of the vegetarian diet on non-communicable diseases
J Sci Food Agric. 2014 Jan 30;94(2):169-73.
doi: 10.1002/jsfa.6362.
Epub 2013 Oct 2.
Author
Duo Li 1
Affiliation
●1Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
●
PMID:
23965907
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DOI:
10.1002/jsfa.6362
Abstract
A vegetarian diet generally includes plenty of vegetables and fruits, which are rich in phytochemicals, antioxidants, fiber, magnesium, vitamins C and E, Fe³⁺, folic acid and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and is low in cholesterol, total fat and saturated fatty acid, sodium, Fe²⁺, zinc, vitamin A, B₁₂ and D, and especially n-3 PUFA. Mortality from all-cause, ischemic heart disease, and circulatory and cerebrovascular diseases was significantly lower in vegetarians than in omnivorous populations. Compared with omnivores, the incidence of cancer and type 2 diabetes was also significantly lower in vegetarians. However, vegetarians have a number of increased risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as increased plasma homocysteine, mean platelet volume and platelet aggregability compared with omnivores, which are associated with low intake of vitamin B₁₂ and n-3 PUFA. Based on the present data, it would seem appropriate for vegetarians to carefully design their diet, specifically focusing on increasing their intake of vitamin B₁₂ and n-3 PUFA to further reduce already low mortality and morbidity from non-communicable diseases.
Keywords:
cancer; homocysteine; ischemic heart disease; mean platelet volume; mortality; platelet aggregation; type 2 diabetes; vegetarian, non-communicable diseases.
© 2013 Society of Chemical Industry.
Publication types
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Review
MeSH terms
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Blood Platelets / metabolism
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Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality
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Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control*
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Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / prevention & control*
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Diet, Vegetarian* / adverse effects
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Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage
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Feeding Behavior*
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Homocysteine / blood
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Humans
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Neoplasms / prevention & control*
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Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / complications
Substances
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Fatty Acids, Omega-3
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Homocysteine