A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Changes in Body Weight in Clinical Trials of Vegetarian Diets

Barnard, Neal D.; Levin, Susan; Yokoyama, Yoko

doi:10.1016/j.jand.2014.11.016

Cited by 211 publications

(180 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…A recent meta-analysis by Barnard et al 21 identified 6 trials that analyzed a vegetarian-like period and reported a significant reduction in total body weight, with an average mean reduction of 3.4 kg. In the same year, the results of an additional meta-analysis, including 12 randomized controlled trials that involved participants who followed a VD, reported similar findings, with a mean reduction of 2.2 kg with respect to the nonvegetarian group.…”

Section: Original Research Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Low-Calorie Vegetarian Versus Mediterranean Diets for Reducing Body Weight and Improving Cardiovascular Risk Profile

Sofi¹,

Dinu²,

Pagliai³

et al. 2018

Circulation

204

168

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Background: Only a few randomized dietary intervention studies that investigated the effects of lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (V d ) in clinically healthy omnivorous subjects are available. Methods: We randomly assigned to overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile a low-calorie V d compared with a low-calorie Mediterranean diet (MD), each lasting 3 months, with a crossover design. The primary outcome was the difference in body weight, body mass index, and fat mass changes between the 2 groups. Secondary outcomes were differences in circulating cardiovascular disease risk parameters changes between the 2 groups. Results: One hundred eighteen subjects (mean age: 51.1 years, females: 78%) were enrolled. The total participation rate at the end of the study was 84.7%. No differences between the 2 diets in body weight were observed, as reported by similar and significant reductions obtained by both V d (−1.88 kg) and MD (−1.77 kg). Similar results were observed for body mass index and fat mass. In contrast, significant differences between the 2 interventions were obtained for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and vitamin B 12 levels. The difference between the V d and MD groups, in terms of end-of-diet values, was recorded at 9.10 mg/dL for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( P =0.01), 12.70 mg/dL for triglycerides ( P <0.01), and 32.32 pg/mL for vitamin B 12 ( P <0.01). Finally, no significant difference was found between V d and MD interventions in oxidative stress markers and inflammatory cytokines, except for interleukin-17, which improved only in the MD group. Forty-six participants during the V d period and 35 during the MD period reached the target values for ≥1 cardiovascular risk factor. Conclusions: Both V d and MD were effective in reducing body weight, body mass index, and fat mass, with no significant differences between them. However, V d was more effective in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, whereas MD led to a greater reduction in triglyceride levels. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02641834.

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Section: Original Research Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Low-Calorie Vegetarian Versus Mediterranean Diets for Reducing Body Weight and Improving Cardiovascular Risk Profile

Sofi¹,

Dinu²,

Pagliai³

et al. 2018

Circulation

204

168

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Table 1 provides an overview of common vegetarian diets. Reduction in coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity and even some cancers have been observed in participants following vegetarian-based diets (Barnard et al, 2015;Olrich & Fraser., 2014;Ornish et al,1998;Schmidt et al,1997). Diets of this nature are typically higher in oligo and polysaccharides, fibre, fruits, vegetables, antioxidants and phytochemicals while lower in saturated fat and cholesterol compared to omnivorous diets (Venderley & Campbell, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies connecting vegetarian diets to improved health are well-established (Barnard et al, 2015;Olrich & Fraser, 2014;Ornish et al,1998;Schmidt et al,1997), however, the evidence for this phenomenon to be transferred to improved physical performance in athletes is less clear. The aim of this study was to examine the evidence for the relationship between consumption of a vegetarian-based diet and improved physical performance by conducting a systematic literature review.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetarian and Omnivorous Nutrition—Comparing Physical Performance

Craddock¹,

Probst²,

Peoples³

2016

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

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Humans consuming vegetarian-based diets are observed to have reduced relative risk for many chronic diseases. Similarly, regular physical activity has also been shown to assist in preventing, and reducing the severity of these conditions. Many people, including athletes, acknowledge these findings and are adopting a vegetarian-based diet to improve their health status. Furthermore, athletes are incorporating this approach with the specific aim of optimising physical performance. To examine the evidence for the relationship between consuming a predominately vegetarian-based diet and improved physical performance a systematic literature review was performed using the SCOPUS database. No date parameters were set. The keywords; vegetarian* OR vegan* AND sport* OR athlete* OR training OR performance OR endurance' were used to identify relevant literature. Included studies; (i) directly compared a vegetarian-based diet to an omnivorous/ mixed diet, (ii) directly assessed physical performance, not biomarkers of physical performance, (iii) did not use supplementation emulating a vegetarian diet. Reference lists were hand searched for additional studies.Seven randomised controlled trials and one cross-sectional study met the inclusion criteria. No distinguished differences between vegetarian-based diets and omnivorous mixed diets were identified when physical performance was compared. Consuming a predominately vegetarian-based diet did not improve nor hinder performance in athletes. However, with only 8 studies identified, with substantial variability amongst the studies' experimental designs, aims and outcomes, further research is warranted However, with only 8 studies identified, with substantial variability amongst the 3 studies' experimental designs, aims and outcomes, further research is warranted.

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“…25 Because obesity is one of the main diet-related risk factors of hypertension, 9 reducing body weight could be an important intermediate variable. However, because studies controlling for body weight have still demonstrated a BP-lowering effect of vegetarian diets, weight differences do not fully explain the observed BP differences.…”

Section: Energy Intakementioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of vegetarian diets on blood pressure

Yokoyama¹,

Tsubota²,

Watanabe³

2016

NDS

Self Cite

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Hypertension is a major independent risk factor for coronary artery diseases, and the prevalence of hypertension is continuously increasing. Diet is an important factor that can be modified to prevent hypertension. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, dietary patterns are defined as the quantities, proportions, and variety or combinations of different foods and beverages in diets and the frequency with which they are habitually consumed. In this review, the vegetarian dietary pattern is introduced with a focus on the effect on blood pressure (BP). Although the available evidence is limited, according to a previous meta-analysis of controlled trials, vegetarian dietary patterns significantly reduced systolic and diastolic BPs. One of the common features of a vegetarian diet is weight loss, which might, at least partially, explain the effect on BP. Other possible factors such as sodium, potassium, protein, amino acids, vitamin B-12, antioxidants, fiber, and the microbiome are introduced as possible mechanisms. Further studies are needed with non-Western populations to determine the most effective vegetarian dietary pattern and to explore the exact mechanisms by which these dietary patterns affect BP.

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A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Changes in Body Weight in Clinical Trials of Vegetarian Diets

Cited by 211 publications

References 45 publications

Low-Calorie Vegetarian Versus Mediterranean Diets for Reducing Body Weight and Improving Cardiovascular Risk Profile

Low-Calorie Vegetarian Versus Mediterranean Diets for Reducing Body Weight and Improving Cardiovascular Risk Profile

Vegetarian and Omnivorous Nutrition—Comparing Physical Performance

Effects of vegetarian diets on blood pressure

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