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  1. Health and Nutrition News

  2. Jul 27, 2023

Review of Studies Confirms Plant-Based Diets Improve Cardiovascular Health

Plant-based diets improve markers of cardiovascular health among people at highest risk of developing heart disease, according to a meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open. A comprehensive review of 29 randomized control trials found that cholesterol, blood sugar, and body weight all improved more on vegetarian/vegan diets than they did simply by using standard therapy for cardiovascular disease.1  

Numerous Physicians Committee studies were included in the analysis, including a recent study that found a low-fat vegan diet outperformed a Mediterranean diet in improving multiple cardiometabolic risk factors.2 

References

  1. Wang T, Kroeger CM, Cassidy S, et al. Vegetarian dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk in people with or at high risk of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(7):e2325658. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.25658  
  2. Barnard ND, Alwarith J, Rembert E, et al. A Mediterranean diet and low-fat vegan diet to improve body weight and cardiometabolic risk factors: a randomized, cross-over trial. J Am Nutr Assoc. 2022;41(2):127-139. doi:10.1080/07315724.2020.1869625 

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