Vegan diet and blood lipid profiles: a cross-sectional study of pre and postmenopausal women.
BACKGROUND
Vegan diet has been associated with lower risk of cardiovascular diseases and mortality, partly due to its effects on serum lipid profiles. Lipid profiles [high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG)] have not been fully elucidated either in pre and postmenopausal vegans or in ovo-lacto vegetarians. This study aimed to compare lipid profiles among vegans, ovo-lacto vegetarians and omnivores.


METHODS
Demographic data and lipid profiles were obtained from the 2002 Taiwanese Survey on Hypertension, Hyperglycemia and Hyperlipidemia. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to examine factors significantly and independently associated with different categories of veganism and to estimate the β value of lipid profiles in the dietary types.


RESULTS
A total of 2397 premenopausal and 1154 postmenopausal participants who did not receive lipid lowering drugs were enrolled. Premenopausal vegans had significantly lower HDL-C and higher TG, LDL-C/HDL-C, total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C compared with omnivores. For postmenopausal women, vegans had lower TC while ovo-lacto vegetarians were observed with low HDL-C when compared with omnivores. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that vegan and ovo-lacto vegetarian diets decreased HDL-C levels in premenopausal women (β = -7.63, p = 0.001 and β = -4.87, p = 0.001, respectively). There were significant associations between lower LDL-C and ovo-lacto vegetarian diets (β = -7.14, p = 0.008) and also between TG and vegan diet (β = 23.37, p = 0.008), compared with omnivorous diet. Post-menopausal women reported to have consumed either a vegan or an ovo-lacto vegetarian diet were at the risk of having low HDL-C unlike those that consumed omnivorous diets (β = -4.88, p = 0.015 and β = -4.48, p = 0.047). There were no significant changes in LDL-C in both pre and postmenopausal vegans.


CONCLUSIONS
Vegan diet was associated with reduced HDL-C level. Because of its effects on lowering HDL-C and LDL-C, ovo-lacto vegetarian diet may be more appropriate for premenopausal women.
Yee-Wen
YW
Huang
Zhi-Hong
ZH
Jian
Hui-Chin
HC
Chang
Oswald Ndi
ON
Nfor
Pei-Chieh
PC
Ko
Chia-Chi
CC
Lung
Long-Yau
LY
Lin
Chien-Chang
CC
Ho
Yi-Chen
YC
Chiang
Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, No, 110 Sec, 1 Chien-Kuo N, Road, Taichung City 40201, Taiwan. Liawyp@csmu.edu.tw.
Yung-Po
YP
Liaw
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides