High Vegetable Fats Intake Is Associated with High Resting Energy Expenditure in Vegetarians

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that a vegetarian diet may be effective in reducing body weight, however, the underlying mechanisms are not entirely clear. We investigated whether there is a difference in resting energy expenditure between 26 vegetarians and 26 non-vegetarians and the correlation between some nutritional factors and inflammatory markers with resting energy expenditure. In this cross-sectional study, vegetarians and non-vegetarians were matched by age, body mass index and gender. All underwent instrumental examinations to assess the difference in body composition, nutrient intake and resting energy expenditure. Biochemical analyses and 12 different cytokines and growth factors were measured as an index of inflammatory state. A higher resting energy expenditure was found in vegetarians than in non-vegetarians (p = 0.008). Furthermore, a higher energy from diet, fibre, vegetable fats intake and interleukin-β (IL-1β) was found between the groups. In the univariate and multivariable analysis, resting energy expenditure was associated with vegetarian diet, free-fat mass and vegetable fats (p < 0.001; Slope in statistic (B) = 4.8; β = 0.42). After adjustment for cytokines, log10 interleukin-10 (IL-10) still correlated with resting energy expenditure (p = 0.02). Resting energy expenditure was positively correlated with a specific component of the vegetarian’s diet, i.e., vegetable fats. Furthermore, we showed that IL-10 was positively associated with resting energy expenditure in this population.

Association of vegetarian diet with inflammatory biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

“…0 %, P = 0 . 58) Montalcini (2015) (30) Study Yu (2014) (37) Lee (2016) (20) 0 . 21 Fruits and vegetables are known as dietary sources of salicylic acid (62,63) , an active ingredient of anti-inflammatory medications (64) .…”

Cardio-Metabolic Benefits of Plant-Based Diets

“…The average individual yearly weight gain is reduced when people limit consumption of animal foods [ 27 ]. Vegetarian diets seem to increase resting energy expenditure [ 28 ], which may be partly responsible for the lower BMI values in vegetarians.…”

Gender- and Age-Specific REE and REE/FFM Distributions in Healthy Chinese Adults

“…It should be considered that these results refer predominantly to healthy Chinese subjects, and different results might be obtained for other ethnic groups or different states of health. For example, an association between blood pressure and REE has been reported in Nigerians and African Americans [ 45 ], higher fasting serum insulin is associated with increased REE in patients who are non-diabetic and have schizophrenia [ 21 ], hyperglycemia and glycemic intolerance were associated with an increase in REE in patients with type 2 diabetes [ 22 , 23 , 24 ], high vegetable fats intake is associated with high REE in vegetarians [ 26 ], and REE was increased by dietary protein during overfeeding [ 25 ]. The extant literature on the relationship among glycolipid metabolism, eating behaviors, and REE remains scarce.…”

“…Recently, several studies in unhealthy populations have pointed out that higher fasting serum insulin was associated with increased REE in patients who are nondiabetic and have schizophrenia [ 21 ], and hyperglycemia and glycemic intolerance were associated with an increase in REE in patients with type 2 diabetes [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. In addition, some recent studies showed that REE was increased by dietary protein during overfeeding [ 25 ], and high vegetable fats intake is associated with high REE in vegetarians [ 26 ]. Associations among glycolipid metabolism, eating behaviors, and REE have been reported in unhealthy subjects.…”