Vegan diet and blood lipid profiles: a cross-sectional study of pre and postmenopausal women

Abstract

BackgroundVegan diet has been associated with lower risk of cardiovascular diseases and mortality, partly due to its effects on serum lipid profiles. Lipid profiles [high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG)] have not been fully elucidated either in pre and postmenopausal vegans or in ovo-lacto vegetarians. This study aimed to compare lipid profiles among vegans, ovo-lacto vegetarians and omnivores.MethodsDemographic data and lipid profiles were obtained from the 2002 Taiwanese Survey on Hypertension, Hyperglycemia and Hyperlipidemia. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to examine factors significantly and independently associated with different categories of veganism and to estimate the β value of lipid profiles in the dietary types.ResultsA total of 2397 premenopausal and 1154 postmenopausal participants who did not receive lipid lowering drugs were enrolled. Premenopausal vegans had significantly lower HDL-C and higher TG, LDL-C/HDL-C, total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C compared with omnivores. For postmenopausal women, vegans had lower TC while ovo-lacto vegetarians were observed with low HDL-C when compared with omnivores. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that vegan and ovo-lacto vegetarian diets decreased HDL-C levels in premenopausal women (β = -7.63, p = 0.001 and β = -4.87, p = 0.001, respectively). There were significant associations between lower LDL-C and ovo-lacto vegetarian diets (β = -7.14, p = 0.008) and also between TG and vegan diet (β = 23.37, p = 0.008), compared with omnivorous diet. Post-menopausal women reported to have consumed either a vegan or an ovo-lacto vegetarian diet were at the risk of having low HDL-C unlike those that consumed omnivorous diets (β = -4.88, p = 0.015 and β = -4.48, p = 0.047). There were no significant changes in LDL-C in both pre and postmenopausal vegans.ConclusionsVegan diet was associated with reduced HDL-C level. Because of its effects on lowering HDL-C and LDL-C, ovo-lacto vegetarian diet may be more appropriate for premenopausal women.

Impact of plant-based diet on lipid risk factors for atherosclerosis

“…In Barnard et al's study [24], a low fat vegetarian diet led to an increase in serum TAG. Similar results were obtained when investigating the vegan population of pre-menopausal women [10]. Other studies show a reduction in the level of TAG during a vegan diet [25].…”

“…Previously published results of studies do not provide a clear answer to the question of how, if at all, a vegan diet influences HDL particles. Some researchers have shown the lowering effects of a vegan diet on HDL-C concentration, which may impair its cardioprotective character [10,29]. We did not find a significant lowering effect of vegan diet on HDL-C concentration (Table 3).…”

“…However, the impact of a vegan diet on other lipid-associated parameters is still ambiguous, for instance, a question still remains regarding the effect of a vegan diet on the quantity and quality of high density lipoproteins (HDL) [10]. HDL particles have an atheroprotective function and together with their main apolipoprotein, apolipoprotein AI (apoAI), play a key role in reverse cholesterol transport, removing excess cholesterol from peripheral tissues and delivering it to the liver.…”

Female sexual dysfunction among menopausal women

“…Without a follicular source, the larger share of postmenopausal estrogen is derived from ovarian stromal and the adrenal secretion of androstenedione, which is aromatized to estrone in the peripheral circulation. There is also a trend toward higher total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein B levels, in conjunction with loss of the protective effect of high-density lipoprotein [14].…”

A comparative study of metabolic profile, anthropometric parameters among vegetarians and non-vegetarians- do vegetarian diet have a cardio protective role?

“…11,16, Henceforth, low fat diet is known to have better glycemic and lipid control. 20 There is sufficient evidence that prevalence of almost all the studied cardiovascular risk factor progressively increased with age. 21 The prevalence of central obesity, hypertension, dysglycaemia and diabetes was maximum in the fifth decade of life.…”