title: Vegetarian diet and cholesterol and TAG levels by gender.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study assessed the effects of vegetarian and omnivorous diets on HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), TAG and the ratio of HDL-C to total cholesterol (TC) by gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  HDL-C, LDL-C, TAG and HDL-C:TC were compared among three diet groups (vegan, ovo-lacto vegetarian and omnivorous). Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to examine factors significantly and independently associated with vegetarian status and to estimate the β value of lipid profiles for the diet groups. Settings A cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from the Taiwanese Survey on the Prevalence of Hyperglycemia, Hyperlipidemia and Hypertension (TwSHHH).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised included 3257 men and 3551 women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for confounders, vegan and ovo-lacto vegetarian diets lowered LDL-C levels (β=-10.98, P=0.005 and β=-7.12, P=0.025, respectively) in men compared with omnivorous diet. There was a significant association between HDL-C and vegan diet (β=-6.53, P=0.004). In females, the β values of HDL-C, TAG and HDL-C:TC were -5.72 (P<0.0001), 16.51 (P=0.011) and -0.02 (P=0.012) for vegan diet, and -4.86 (P=0.002), 15.09 (P=0.008) and -0.01 (P=0.026) for ovo-lacto vegetarian diet, when compared with omnivorous diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vegan diet was associated with lower HDL-C concentrations in both males and females. Because the ovo-lacto vegetarian diet was effective in lowering LDL-C, it may be more appropriate for males.
authors: 1Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health,Chung Shan Medical University,No. 110 Sec. 1 Jianguo N. Road,Taichung City 40201,Taiwan,Republic of China.
authors: Zhi-Hong
authors: ZH
authors: Jian
authors: 1Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health,Chung Shan Medical University,No. 110 Sec. 1 Jianguo N. Road,Taichung City 40201,Taiwan,Republic of China.
authors: Yi-Chen
authors: YC
authors: Chiang
authors: 1Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health,Chung Shan Medical University,No. 110 Sec. 1 Jianguo N. Road,Taichung City 40201,Taiwan,Republic of China.
authors: Chia-Chi
authors: CC
authors: Lung
authors: 2Department of Health and Leisure Management,Yuanpei University,Hsinchu City,Taiwan,Republic of China.
authors: Chien-Chang
authors: CC
authors: Ho
authors: 1Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health,Chung Shan Medical University,No. 110 Sec. 1 Jianguo N. Road,Taichung City 40201,Taiwan,Republic of China.
authors: Pei-Chieh
authors: PC
authors: Ko
authors: 1Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health,Chung Shan Medical University,No. 110 Sec. 1 Jianguo N. Road,Taichung City 40201,Taiwan,Republic of China.
authors: Oswald
authors: O
authors: Ndi Nfor
authors: 1Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health,Chung Shan Medical University,No. 110 Sec. 1 Jianguo N. Road,Taichung City 40201,Taiwan,Republic of China.
authors: Hui-Chin
authors: HC
authors: Chang
authors: 1Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health,Chung Shan Medical University,No. 110 Sec. 1 Jianguo N. Road,Taichung City 40201,Taiwan,Republic of China.
authors: Yi-Ching
authors: YC
authors: Liaw
authors: 4Department of Exercise and Health Promotion,Ta Hwa University of Science and Technology,Hsinchu County,Taiwan,Republic of China.
authors: Yu-Chiu
authors: YC
authors: Liang
authors: 1Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health,Chung Shan Medical University,No. 110 Sec. 1 Jianguo N. Road,Taichung City 40201,Taiwan,Republic of China.
authors: Yung-Po
authors: YP
authors: Liaw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Vegetarian