Vol 23, No 2 (2016)
PREVENTION - Original articles
Published online: 2016-01-07

open access

Page views 8541
Article views/downloads 7948
Get Citation

Connect on Social Media

Connect on Social Media

Impact of plant-based diet on lipid risk factors for atherosclerosis

Agnieszka Kuchta, Anna Lebiedzińska, Marcin Fijałkowski, Rafał Gałąska, Ewelina Kreft, Magdalena Totoń, Kuba Czaja, Anna Kozłowska, Agnieszka Ćwiklińska, Barbara Kortas-Stempak, Adrian Strzelecki, Anna Gliwińska, Kamil Dąbkowski, Maciej Jankowski
DOI: 10.5603/CJ.a2016.0002
Pubmed: 26779974
Cardiol J 2016;23(2):141-148.

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a vegan diet on the serum lipid profile with particular regard to the parameters characterizing the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) fractions in subjects without subclinical atherosclerosis, measured by carotid Doppler ultrasonography.

Methods and Results: Forty-two 23 to 38 year old subjects (21 omnivores and 21 vegans) participated in the study. Compared to the omnivores, the vegan subjects were characterized by lower parameters of lipid profile: total cholesterol (p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (p < 0.001), non-HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001), apolipoprotein B (apoB) (p < 0.001) and phospholipids (p < 0.01). Concentration of HDL-cholesterol was apparently similar between groups. Furthermore, the parameters which characterize HDL particles (con­centration of apolipoproteins AI [apoAI] and AII, HDL-phospholipids, LpAI fraction and pre-b1-HDL fraction) were not significantly different between omnivore and vegan subjects. The apoB/apoAI ratio in vegans was lower than in omnivores (p < 0.01). There was no difference between serum concentration of triacylglycerols between omnivores and vegans. The activity of paraoxonase-1 and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2a concentration were also not different between the study groups.

Conclusions: We suggest that a vegan diet may have a beneficial effect on serum lipid profile and cardiovascular protection, but it is not associated with changes in HDL composition.

Article available in PDF format

View PDF Download PDF file