title: Effect of the vegetarian diet on non-communicable diseases.
abstract: A vegetarian diet generally includes plenty of vegetables and fruits, which are rich in phytochemicals, antioxidants, fiber, magnesium, vitamins C and E, Fe³⁺, folic acid and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and is low in cholesterol, total fat and saturated fatty acid, sodium, Fe²⁺, zinc, vitamin A, B₁₂ and D, and especially n-3 PUFA. Mortality from all-cause, ischemic heart disease, and circulatory and cerebrovascular diseases was significantly lower in vegetarians than in omnivorous populations. Compared with omnivores, the incidence of cancer and type 2 diabetes was also significantly lower in vegetarians. However, vegetarians have a number of increased risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as increased plasma homocysteine, mean platelet volume and platelet aggregability compared with omnivores, which are associated with low intake of vitamin B₁₂ and n-3 PUFA. Based on the present data, it would seem appropriate for vegetarians to carefully design their diet, specifically focusing on increasing their intake of vitamin B₁₂ and n-3 PUFA to further reduce already low mortality and morbidity from non-communicable diseases.
authors: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
authors: Duo
authors: D
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian / Q000009:adverse effects; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D006710:Homocysteine
keywords: cancer; homocysteine; ischemic heart disease; mean platelet volume; mortality; platelet aggregation; type 2 diabetes; vegetarian, non-communicable diseases