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Chinese Lacto‐Vegetarian Diet Exerts Favorable Effects on Metabolic Parameters, Intima‐Media Thickness, and Cardiovascular Risks in Healthy Men
Author(s) -
Yang ShuYu,
Li XueJun,
Zhang Wei,
Liu ChangQin,
Zhang HuiJie,
Lin JinRong,
Yan Bing,
Yu YaXin,
Shi XiuLin,
Li CanDong,
Li WeiHua
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
nutrition in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1941-2452
pISSN - 0884-5336
DOI - 10.1177/0884533611436173
Subject(s) - medicine , blood pressure , endocrinology , triglyceride , body mass index , lipid profile , cholesterol , blood lipids , intima media thickness , carotid arteries
Background : To investigate whether the Chinese lacto‐vegetarian diet has protective effects on metabolic and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods : One hundred sixty‐nine healthy Chinese lacto‐vegetarians and 126 healthy omnivore men aged 21–76 years were enrolled. Anthropometric indexes, lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, pancreatic β cell function, and intima‐media thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries were assessed and compared. Cardiovascular risk points and probability of developing CVD in 5–10 years in participants aged 24–55 years were calculated. Results : Compared with omnivores, lacto‐vegetarians had remarkably lower body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, γ‐glutamyl transferase, serum creatinine, uric acid, fasting blood glucose, as well as lower total cholesterol/high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio. Vegetarians also had higher homeostasis model assessment β cell function and insulin secretion index and thinner carotid IMT than the omnivores did. These results corresponded with lower cardiovascular risk points and probability of developing CVD in 5–10 years in vegetarians 24–55 years old. Conclusions : In healthy Chinese men, the lacto‐vegetarian diet seems to exert protective effects on blood pressure, lipid profiles, and metabolic parameters and results in significantly lower carotid IMT. Lower CVD risks found in vegetarians also reflect the beneficial effect of the Chinese lacto‐vegetarian diet.