Oxidant status and lipid profile in vegetarians and fish eaters

Habitual consumption of moderate amounts of fish is associated with reduced mortality from coronary heart disease. However the beneficial effects of fish enriched diet seem contradictory, due to the susceptibility of the PUFAs in them to oxidation. It is also acclaimed that vegetarians in general, have a lower serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and a better antioxidant status. This contradiction was the basis for the study, where the validity of the above finding was tested in a general population consuming a vegetarian or predominantly fish diet as a regular dietary habit. The oxidant status and the lipid profile of 23 vegetarians and 22 fish eaters was studied by estimating the plasma lipid peroxides measured as malondialdehyde (MDA) and the lipid parameters viz. Total Cholesterol (TC), HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG). Statistical analysis was carried out to compare the MDA values and the lipemic status between the two groups. MDA was also correlated with the various lipid indices among the study groups. None of the compared and correlated values was statistically significant, although certain altered trends were seen. From this study, it may be concluded that oxidant status and lipid profile does not vary significantly in the two groups, suggesting that neither a vegetarian diet nor a fish diet has a definite benefit over the other.