Relationship of carotid intima-media thickness and duration of vegetarian diet in Chinese male vegetarians
2011

Impact of Vegetarian Diet on Carotid Thickness in Chinese Men

Sample size: 300 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Yang Shu-Yu, Zhang Hui-Jie, Sun Su-Yun, Wang Li-Ying, Yan Bing, Liu Chang-Qin, Zhang Wei, Li Xue-Jun

Primary Institution: Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Hypothesis

The study aims to investigate the influence of the duration of a vegetarian diet on cardiovascular risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) among Chinese vegetarians.

Conclusion

A vegetarian diet is associated with lower cardiovascular risk factors and thinner carotid intima-media thickness, particularly in those who have followed the diet for less than 11 years.

Supporting Evidence

  • Vegetarians had lower BMI, blood pressure, and improved lipid profiles compared to omnivores.
  • Carotid IMT was significantly thinner in vegetarians than in omnivores.
  • Duration of vegetarian diet correlated with lower cardiovascular risk factors.

Takeaway

Eating a vegetarian diet can help keep your heart healthy and make your blood vessels thinner, especially if you stick to it for a long time.

Methodology

171 Chinese male vegetarians were compared with 129 age-matched omnivores for metabolic profiles and carotid IMT, using logistic regression analysis to adjust for confounding factors.

Potential Biases

Potential biases may arise from self-reported dietary habits and the exclusion of participants with chronic diseases.

Limitations

The study may not account for all dietary variations and nutrient deficiencies associated with long-term vegetarian diets.

Participant Demographics

171 male vegetarians aged 21-76 years, mean age 32.6 years, compared to 129 age-matched omnivores.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Confidence Interval

95% confidence interval

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1743-7075-8-63

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