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Exploring Vegetarian and Omnivorous Approaches to Cardiovascular Risk and Body Composition
Tatiana Fontes1, Sofia Lopes1, Regina Menezes1
1CBIOS-Universidade Lusófona's Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies, Av. Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal.
Nutrients
|July 13, 2024
Summary
Vegetarian diets may improve cholesterol levels but not body composition compared to omnivorous diets. Cardiovascular risk is more linked to body fat than diet alone.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition science
- Cardiovascular health
- Metabolic studies
Background:
- Non-communicable diseases are increasingly linked to diet.
- Plant-based diets show potential for improving health and body composition.
- Understanding the impact of vegetarianism on metabolic health and cardiovascular risk is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare body composition and metabolic status between vegetarians and omnivores.
- To investigate the relationship between diet, body composition, and cardiovascular risk.
- To assess the influence of dietary patterns on cardiometabolic biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- 176 participants (61 vegetarians, 115 omnivores) were analyzed.
- Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
- Biochemical markers and 10-year cardiovascular risk (10RCVD) via QRISK3 were assessed.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in body composition were observed between groups.
- Vegetarians exhibited lower total cholesterol, LDL, and non-HDL cholesterol.
- No differences in 10RCVD were found, but correlations existed between cardiovascular risk and visceral adipose tissue.
Conclusions:
- Vegetarian diets may be associated with improved cardiometabolic biomarkers.
- Cardiovascular risk appears more influenced by body composition (visceral fat) than dietary patterns.
- Further research is needed to clarify the complex interplay between diet, body composition, and cardiovascular health.
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