Plant-based diets linked to key improvements in heart health, new study confirms
Vegetarian and vegan diets are both associated with lower risks of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new data published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology.[1] The study’s authors performed an umbrella review of 21 different systematic reviews (SRs) from 2018 to 2024, only considering publications from peer-reviewed sources.
“In recent years, there has been an emergence of numerous SRs on the impact of vegetarian dietary patterns for CVD risk and prevention,” wrote first author Matthew Landry, PhD, RDN, a nutrition specialist and assistant professor with the University of California, Irvine, and colleagues. “This underscores the growing recognition and scientific interest in the potential benefits of vegetarian dietary patterns for maintaining cardiovascular health. However, these SRs have variable quality and typically focus on limited outcomes. To support development and refinement of evidence-based dietary recommendations and clinical practice guidelines for primary prevention of CVD, a systematic and comprehensive overview of current evidence was warranted.”
Landry et al. started with a list of more than 750 SRs before trimming the list down to 21 due to their robust exclusion criteria. While some SRs focused on vegan or vegetarian diets exclusively, others tracked both dietary patterns. All patients included in the analysis were 18 years old or older.
“Primary outcomes of interest included CVD incidence, events and mortality,” the group wrote. “Coronary heart disease (CHD) and ischemic heart disease were both described as CHD. Secondary outcomes included hypertension and overweight/obesity incidence, blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, c-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and body mass index (BMI).”
Umbrella review links vegetarian, vegan diets to multiple cardiovascular benefits
Overall, vegetarian diets were associated with a reduced risk of CVD, CHD or CVD-related mortality compared to non-vegetarian diets. In addition, vegan diets were linked to improvements in blood pressure, LDL-C, triglycerides, CRP and BMI data when compared to non-vegan diets. One SR did examine stroke mortality, but Landry and colleagues found the findings to be imprecise due to how the authors designed their research.
“These findings can be used in the development and refinement of clinical guidelines for CVD prevention,” the authors wrote.
Researchers warn against ‘poorly planned’ vegetarian, vegan diets
The study’s authors also emphasized that simply excluding meat from one’s diet does not guarantee they are taking care of their heart.
“Vegetarian-style dietary patterns are typically low in saturated fats and cholesterol while providing health-promoting foods rich in fiber, antioxidants, and phytochemicals,” the group wrote. “These dietary attributes are key factors in maintaining cardiovascular health, including improved lipid profiles, blood pressure regulation, enhancing endothelial function, inflammation control, as well as contributing to a diverse microbiome. However, a poorly planned vegetarian-style dietary pattern can limit specific nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, and calcium or include an excess of refined carbohydrates, added sugar, or saturated fat, which can contribute to increased CVD risk.”
More high-quality trials needed on plant-based diets
Researchers closed with a call for more high-quality randomized clinical trials focused on the potential impact of plant-based diets among healthy adults. In the meantime, the evidence is strong enough that “clinicians may consider recommending vegetarian dietary patterns to reduce cardiometabolic risk factors and decrease the risk of CVD incidence and mortality,” the authors concluded.
Click here to read the full analysis in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, the official journal of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.