Better Adequacy of Food Intake According to Dietary Recommendations of National Cholesterol Education Program in Vegetarian Compared to Omnivorous Men

Abstract

Background:The lower frequency of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors observed in vegetarians compared to omnivores may be due to more appropriate nutrient intake according to recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.Objective: To compare the dietary adequacy according to the recommendations of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) in apparently healthy vegetarian (VEG) and omnivorous (OMN) men.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, conducted with apparently healthy men (44 omnivorous and 44 vegetarians, ≥ 35 years), who were assessed for daily food consumption, anthropometric data, physical exercise status, and clinical data. Multiple logistic regression was used to test the association between the type of diet and the dietary adequacy. Significant values were considered for p<0.05.Results: Several clinical CV risk markers were significantly lower in VEG when compared to OMN: body mass index (BMI) (23.1 vs. 27.3 kg/m2), systolic blood pressure (119.5 vs. 129.2 mmHg), and diastolic blood pressure (75.7 vs. 83.9 mmHg). VEG presented significant lower values of blood lipids and glucose. No significant difference was observed in caloric intake; however, VEG consumed significantly more carbohydrates, dietary fibers, and polyunsaturated fats. VEG presented an adequate consumption of dietary cholesterol and saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, regardless of caloric intake and age. Conclusion:VEG were more likely to consume saturated fatty acids, dietary cholesterol, and fibers according to the recommendations of NCEP, factors that may contribute to lower levels of CV risk markers than OMN.

Cardiovascular Benefits of Plant-Based Diets

“…In summary, the findings of the study conducted by Antoniazzi et al, 15 are in line with recent evidence suggesting beneficial effects of plant-based diets, and highlight that achieving nutritional recommendations for CVD prevention may be easier for vegetarians compared to omnivores.…”

“…13 This positive impact may be due to the higher amount of fermentable fibers, polyphenols and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet, that act as prebiotics and selectively stimulate the increase of beneficial species. 14 In this issue of the Journal, Antoniazzi et al, 15 in a crosssectional study, compare dietary adequacy, according to the recommendations of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), between apparently healthy vegetarians and omnivorous men. Several cardiovascular risk markers were significantly lower in vegetarians compared to omnivores, including, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, pulse wave velocity, and carotid intima-media thickness.…”

Differences in carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity and carotid intima media thickness between vegetarian and omnivorous diets in healthy subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…For atherosclerosis, the studies included a total of 227 and 247 healthy subjects for vegetarian and omnivorous diets, respectively (age range 24–60 years), and for arterial stiffness, the studies included a total of 253 and 259 healthy subjects for vegetarian and omnivorous diets, respectively (age range 20–70 years). Finally, six studies measured cf-PWv 26,27,29,31–33 as an index of arterial stiffness and seven studies measured c-IMT 24,25,27–31 as an index of atherosclerosis. Table 1 shows the characteristics of the included studies.…”

“…In total, 10 studies [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] were included in the systematic review and seven in the meta-analysis [24][25][26][27]30,32,33 (Fig. 1).…”

“…1). All included studies were cross-sectional studies conducted in five countries: four in Brazil, [27][28][29]31 two in the United Kingdom 26,30 and in the United States, 32,33 one in Taiwan, 24 and one in China. 25 The studies were published between 2006 and 2022.…”