Work

Vegetarian Dietary Patterns Are Associated With a Lower Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to compare dietary patterns in their relationship with metabolic risk factors (MRFs) and the metabolic syndrome (MetS). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of 773 subjects (mean age 60 years) from the Adventist Health Study 2 was performed. Dietary pattern was derived from a food frequency questionnaire and classified as vegetarian (35%), semi-vegetarian (16%), and nonvegetarian (49%). ANCOVA was used to determine associations between dietary pattern and MRFs (HDL, triglycerides, glucose, blood pressure, and waist circumference) while controlling for relevant cofactors. Logistic regression was used in calculating odds ratios (ORs) for MetS. RESULTS: A vegetarian dietary pattern was associated with significantly lower means for all MRFs except HDL (P for trend < 0.001 for those factors) and a lower risk of having MetS (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.30-0.64, P < 0.001) when compared with a nonvegetarian dietary pattern. CONCLUSIONS: A vegetarian dietary pattern is associated with a more favorable profile of MRFs and a lower risk of MetS. The relationship persists after adjusting for lifestyle and demographic factors.

Source: Diabetes Care

DOI: 10.2337/dc10-1221

Authors: Nico S. Rizzo, Joan Sabaté, Karen Jaceldo-Siegl, Gary E. Fraser

Institutions: Loma Linda University, Karolinska Institutet

Language: English

Topic: Nutritional Studies and Diet

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute