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Two decades of research point to health benefits associated with plant-based diets

 
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Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
 
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15 May 2024, 21:41

Vegetarian and vegan diets are generally associated with better health outcomes across a variety of health factors related to cardiovascular health and cancer risk, as well as a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality, according to a new review of 48 previously published articles. Angelo Capodichi and colleagues reported these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on May 15, 2024.

Previous studies have linked certain diets to increased risk of heart disease and cancer. Diets low in plant foods and high in meat, refined grains, sugar, and salt are associated with a higher risk of death. Reducing consumption of animal products in favor of plant foods has been suggested as a way to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. However, the overall benefits of such diets remain unclear.

To gain a deeper understanding of the potential benefits of plant-based diets, Capodichi and colleagues analyzed 48 articles published between January 2000 and June 2023 that pooled data from multiple previous studies. Following an umbrella review approach, they extracted and analyzed data from 48 articles on the relationship between plant-based diets, cardiovascular health, and cancer risk.

Their analysis found that overall, vegetarian and vegan diets were statistically significantly associated with improved health across a range of risk factors associated with cardiometabolic disease, cancer and mortality, such as blood pressure, blood sugar control and body mass index. Such diets were associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease, gastrointestinal and prostate cancers and cardiovascular mortality.

However, among pregnant women who followed a vegetarian diet, there was no difference in the risk of gestational diabetes and hypertension compared with those who did not follow a plant-based diet.

Overall, these results suggest that plant-based diets are associated with significant health benefits. However, the researchers note that the statistical power of this association is significantly limited by many differences between past studies, such as the specific diets, patient demographics, study length, and other factors.

Moreover, some plant-based diets may cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies in some people, so the researchers warn that more research is needed before recommending plant-based diets on a large scale.

The authors add: "Our study evaluates the differential effects of animal-free diets on cardiovascular health and cancer risk, showing how a vegetarian diet may be beneficial to human health and may be an effective preventive strategy for two of the most significant chronic diseases of the 21st century."

The results of the work are described in detail in an article published in the journal PLOS ONE.

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