title: Effects of 7 days on an ad libitum low-fat vegan diet: the McDougall Program cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiologic evidence, reinforced by clinical and laboratory studies, shows that the rich Western diet is the major underlying cause of death and disability (e.g, from cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes) in Western industrialized societies. The objective of this study is to document the effects that eating a low-fat (≤10% of calories), high-carbohydrate (~80% of calories), moderate-sodium, purely plant-based diet ad libitum for 7 days can have on the biomarkers of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of measurements of weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids and estimation of cardiovascular disease risk at baseline and day 7 from 1615 participants in a 10-day residential dietary intervention program from 2002 to 2011. Wilcoxon's signed-rank test was used for testing the significance of changes from baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median (interquartile range, IQR) weight loss was 1.4 (1.8) kg (p < .001). The median (IQR) decrease in total cholesterol was 22 (29) mg/dL (p < .001). Even though most antihypertensive and antihyperglycemic medications were reduced or discontinued at baseline, systolic blood pressure decreased by a median (IQR) of 8 (18) mm Hg (p < .001), diastolic blood pressure by a median (IQR) of 4 (10) mm Hg (p < .001), and blood glucose by a median (IQR) of 3 (11) mg/dL (p < .001). For patients whose risk of a cardiovascular event within 10 years was >7.5% at baseline, the risk dropped to 5.5% (>27%) at day 7 (p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A low-fat, starch-based, vegan diet eaten ad libitum for 7 days results in significant favorable changes in commonly tested biomarkers that are used to predict future risks for cardiovascular disease and metabolic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Dr, McDougall's Health and Medical Center, PO Box 14039, Santa Rosa, CA 95402, USA. drmcdougall@drmcdougall.com.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McDougall
authors.forename: Laurie E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McDougall
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moloney
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saul
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Finnell
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Katelin Mae
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Petersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol