title: Reduced plasma fibrinogen, serum peroxides, lipids, and apolipoproteins after a 3-week vegetarian diet.
abstract: The influence of a 3-week vegetarian diet and fasting on serum concentration of peroxides, lipids, apolipoproteins, and plasma fibrinogen was studied in ten middle-aged fibromyalgia/fibrositis patients (eight women, two men). Mean serum peroxide concentration (estimated as thiobarbituric acid reacting substances) was reduced from 3.60 +/- 0.14 to 2.82 +/- 0.15 umol/l (p = 0.01) and plasma fibrinogen from 3.33 +/- 0.25 to 2.74 +/- 0.15 g/l (p = 0.02). Serum total cholesterol fell from 6.61 +/- 0.50 to 4.83 +/- 0.35 mmol/l (p < 0.0001), apolipoprotein B from 1.77 +/- 0.14 to 1.31 +/- 0.11 g/l (p < 0.0001), and apolipoprotein A from 1.41 +/- 0.09 to 1.23 +/- 0.05 g/l (p = 0.03). High density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration also decreased somewhat (from 1.26 +/- 0.09 to 1.07 +/- 0.04 mmol/l, p = 0.03) An atherogenic index, reflecting the balance between low and high density lipoproteins, was reduced by 31% (from 5.74 +/- 0.79 to 3.97 +/- 0.60, p = 0.02). The results suggest that vegetarian diet/fasting may have a beneficial influence on the concentration of serum peroxides and plasma fibrinogen concentration, and on the serum level of several lipoprotein-related coronary risk factors.
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors: A T
authors: AT
authors: Høstmark
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Lystad
authors: O D
authors: OD
authors: Vellar
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Hovi
authors: J E
authors: JE
authors: Berg
mesh_terms: D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis*; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010545:Peroxides / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D008055:Lipids; D010545:Peroxides; D014280:Triglycerides; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002784:Cholesterol