Plant-based diets for children as a means of improving adult cardiometabolic health

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the largest contributor to global mortality, and this trend is expected to continue. Although mortality rates have been falling, adverse developments in obesity and diabetes threaten to reverse this. It has been estimated that the only viable strategy to reduce the epidemic is to focus on population-wide risk factor reduction. Primordial prevention, a strategy aimed at avoiding the development of risk factors before the disease onset, has been shown to reduce the CVD epidemic substantially. Plant-based diets appear beneficial for prevention of cardiometabolic diseases, with adult vegetarians and vegans having lower CVD risk than omnivores. Atherosclerosis starts in childhood and progresses in relation to classical CVD risk factors, which, along with dietary habits, track to adulthood. Based on this evidence, it is proposed that plant-based diets in childhood could promote cardiometabolic health in adults and thereby reduce CVD and promote longevity and health. However, the need for additional research to establish the safety of predominantly or exclusively plant-based diets in children is noted.

Prospective association between a Mediterranean-style dietary score in childhood and cardiometabolic risk in young adults from the ALSPAC birth cohort

“…However, these analyses suggested that vegetables and cereals made a greater contribution to the observed association. This is consistent with evidence showing that plant-based diets can improve cardiometabolic health in children [ 13 , 63 ]. There are multiple potential mechanisms that can explain how a predominantly plant-based diet, such as the MDP, can ameliorate insulin resistance, lower blood pressure, improve blood lipids and prevent excess weight gain [ 19 , 22 , 64 ].…”

Growth, body composition, and cardiovascular and nutritional risk of 5- to 10-y-old children consuming vegetarian, vegan, or omnivore diets

“…Although many of the coefficients for between-group differences are of modest magnitude, upward or downward shifts in population distributions affect how many individuals are in high- or low-risk groups. Among adults, vegetarians and vegans tend to have a better cardiometabolic profile than omnivores and ∼25% lower risk of ischemic heart disease ( 9 ). Importantly, atherosclerosis starts in childhood and develops into classical CVD risk factors, which track through to adulthood.…”

“…Importantly, atherosclerosis starts in childhood and develops into classical CVD risk factors, which track through to adulthood. These risk factors are affected by diet ( 9 ), which itself tracks into adulthood ( 9 ). Our finding that vegan diets in children are associated with a better CVD profile might potentially contribute to lowering adulthood CVD.…”

“…Atherosclerosis originates in childhood and relates to cardiometabolic risk factors that, along with dietary habits, track into adulthood. Therefore, PBDs in childhood might reduce adult risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) ( 9 ); however, any such benefits must be considered in light of safety in the pediatric population. Vegetarians and vegans restrict intake of whole food groups.…”

Nutritional Status and the Influence of the Vegan Diet on the Gut Microbiota and Human Health

“…The content in fatty acids and saturated fats is particularly low in a plant diet, leading to weight loss, improved lipid profile, and reduced blood pressure, associated with prevention of coronary heart disease and other chronic diseases [44][45][46]. Plant foods contain just small amounts of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly α-linolenic acid (ALA), and therefore omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can be obtained from most vegetable oils, cereals, walnuts, chiaseed, rapeseed, linseed, camelina, canola, and hemp [4,45,47,48].…”