Improved Cardiovascular Parameter With a Nutrient-Dense, Plant-Rich Diet-Style: A Patient Survey With Illustrative Cases

Abstract

. The results presented from a practice survey include cases of interest, demonstrating improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors utilizing a Nutrient-Dense, Plant-Rich (NDPR) diet. It includes changes in weight, blood pressure, and lipids parameters derived from the survey and retrospective chart review. . Practice records and interviews were used for case history descriptions. Participants' data were collected via an online survey.. Adherence to a NDPR dietary protocol resulted in reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and serum triglycerides. Compliance of greater than 80% with the target diet resulted in an average sustained weight loss of over 50 pounds in 75 obese subjects. There was a corresponding average reduction of 27.8 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure for the 127 survey responders with untreated hypertension at baseline, and a 42.2 mg/dL average decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for the 328 survey responders, not on cholesterol reducing medications. . The outcomes from both the survey responders and cases demonstrate the potential for the NDPR dietary intervention to improve weight, blood pressure, lipids, and even reverse severe cardiovascular disease. Though this is a report of cases and self-reported benefits, it adds evidence to support the need for further studies investigating the potential of this dietary intervention.

Effects of ad libitum consumed, low-fat, high-fiber plant-based diet supplemented with plant-based meal replacements on cardiovascular risk factors

“…Recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 30 observational studies and 19 clinical trials that examined associations between PBDs and plasma lipids showed that the consumption of vegetarian diets, particularly vegan diets, is associated with lower levels of plasma lipid, but not with decreased triglycerides compared with omnivorous diets in observational studies and clinical trials (5). In a nonrandomized study (without a control group) on 328 obese people who were not taking cholesterol-lowering medications, Fuhrman and Singer showed that in a 1-year plant-based intervention the average drop of LDL-cholesterol was 25% (from 4.4 to 3.3 mmol/L) and that triglycerides decreased by 40% (from 2.3 to 1.4 mmol/L), while the total cholesterol change for the interventional group was not reported (15). Our results extend this finding by showing a further meaningful reduction of LDL-cholesterol in participants with marginally elevated baseline cholesterol, even in the subsample of participants with normal BMI.…”

Dietary Habits and Race Day Strategies among Flexitarian, Vegetarian, and Vegan Recreational Endurance Runners: A Cross-Sectional Investigation from The NURMI Study (Step 2)

“…It was also reported by the majority of subjects that the previous dietary change affected their physical or mental well-being, with virtually all the subjects reporting a positive change. This finding is likely due to consuming more foods from whole plant sources than the previous diet, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes (as well as the synergistic effects of eating the varieties together), which is related to a healthier dietary profile of protein and fat (with little to no dietary cholesterol in the case of the vegan diet), folate, fiber and complex carbohydrates, phytochemicals, and especially antioxidants [ 78 , 91 ].…”

A Worksite Nutrition Intervention is Effective at Improving Employee Well-Being: A Pilot Study

“…This micronutrient-dense, plant-rich diet (mNDPR), the dietary pattern utilized in this study, has been proven to be safe and effective in clinical applications not only with inflammation reduction [ 5 ], but also with weight reduction and blood pressure lowering [ 6 ], lipid management [ 7 , 8 ], glycemic control in diabetes [ 9 ], perceptions of hunger [ 10 ], precautionary approaches for cancer [ 11 ], and overall health and longevity [ 12 ].…”