Vegetarian diets and cardiovascular risk factors in black members of the Adventist Health Study-2

Abstract

Objective To compare cardiovascular risk factors between vegetarians and non-vegetarians in black individuals living in the USA. Design A cross-sectional analysis of a sub-set of 592 black women and men enrolled in the Adventist Health Study-2 (AHS-2) cohort of Seventh-day Adventists. Setting Members of the AHS-2 cohort, who lived in all states of the USA and provinces of Canada. Subjects Black/African-American members of two sub-studies of AHS-2 where blood and physiological measurements were obtained. Results Of these women and men, 25% were either vegan or lacto-ovo-vegetarians (labelled ‘vegetarian/vegans’), 13 % were pesco-vegetarian and 62% were non-vegetarian. Compared with non-vegetarians, the vegetarian/vegans had odds ratios for hypertension, diabetes, high blood total cholesterol and high blood LDL-cholesterol of 0·56 (95% CI 0·36, 0·87), 0·48 (95% CI 0·24, 0·98), 0·42 (95% CI 0·27, 0·65) and 0·54 (95% CI 0·33, 0·89), respectively, when adjusted for age, gender, education, physical activity and sub-study. Corresponding odds ratios for obesity in vegetarian/vegans and pesco-vegetarians, compared with non-vegetarians, were 0·43 (95% CI 0·28, 0·67) and 0·47 (95% CI 0·27, 0·81), respectively; and for abdominal obesity 0·54 (95% CI 0·36, 0·82) and 0·50 (95% CI 0·29, 0·84), respectively. Results for pesco-vegetarians did not differ significantly from those of non-vegetarians for other variables. Further adjustment for BMI suggested that BMI acts as an intermediary variable between diet and both hypertension and diabetes. Conclusions As with non-blacks, these results suggest that there are sizeable advantages to a vegetarian diet in black individuals also, although a cross-sectional analysis cannot conclusively establish cause.

Recommended Dietary Pattern to Achieve Adherence to the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) Guidelines: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

“…[37][38][39] Some trials have reported lowering of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein. 40 Vegetarian dietary patterns are characterized as predominantly including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts, similar to the DASH diet. Whether vegetarian diets, with or without dairy products, achieve benefits similar to those of the DASH diet is unknown.…”

A defined, plant‐based diet utilized in an outpatient cardiovascular clinic effectively treats hypercholesterolemia and hypertension and reduces medications

“…Based on growing evidence, [10][11][12][13][14][15] it has been recommended that physicians encourage patients to consume plant-based diets. 16 The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effectiveness of a defined, plant-based diet as an adjunct to or replacement of prescription drugs in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and HTN in an outpatient clinical setting.…”

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

“…5 The proportion of deaths due to CVDs in Asians may be about 15% and in India CVD accounts for 53.5% of mortality. 1,4 A constellation of modifiable (smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, anthropometric parameters, metabolic parameters like lipid profile) and non-modifiable factors (age, gender) interact together to substantially increase the risk of CVD.…”

“…1,6 Various studies show that there is association between high serum cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and the prevalence of myocardial infarction and cerebral vascular accidents. 7 Also, evidence is present to show that vegetarian diet plays significant role in vascular protection and consumption of vegetarian diet reduces the risk of CVD.…”

“…12 Diet being a modifiable risk factor for CVD, by adapting suitable dietary pattern, we can not only reduce the cardiovascular risk but also dietary measures can also prevent progressive damage due to non-communicable diseases like hypertension or diabetes. 1 The main objective of the study is to compare the metabolic profile and anthropometric parameters among vegetarians and non-vegetarians.…”