Adequate Vegetable Intake Improves Metabolic Indices in Healthy Japanese Participants: A Randomized Crossover Study

We aimed to elucidate the effect of a healthy diet containing adequate amounts of protein and vegetables on metabolic indices.

In this randomized crossover study, twenty-two healthy Japanese participants ingested two different test meals: fish diet (F) or fish diet with adequate vegetable content (FV). Each 5-day diet load test was separated by a washout period of at least seven days. Metabolic indices were measured in fasting blood and 24-h urine samples.

The delta (Δ) plasma glucose and Δserum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations were significantly larger in the participants in group FV than in group F (p=0.042, p=0.013, respectively). The urinary pH in participants in group F on day 6 was significantly lower than on day 1 (p=0.008), and the Δurinary pH and Δnet gastrointestinal absorption of alkali of participants in group FV tended to be smaller than in group F (p=0.070, p=0.075, respectively).

This study showed that a healthy diet containing adequate protein and vegetables reduced the dietary acid load and improved plasma glucose and serum LDL concentrations in healthy Japanese participants.