Vegan Diet Health Benefits in Metabolic Syndrome.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to analyze the potential impact of a vegan diet on the onset and treatment of metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Results Summary
A well-balanced vegan diet can promote optimal health and reduce the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases like MetS, but it may cause nutritional deficiencies (e.g., vitamin B12, iron) if not properly managed. Fortified foods and supplements are recommended to address these deficiencies.
Population
Not specified (general population adopting vegan diets).
Effective Dosage
Not specified.
Duration
Not specified.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vegan diet | increase | an optimal state of health | - | - | can help in achieving and maintaining | #1 |
vegan diet | decrease | proteins, ω-3 fatty acids, iron, vitamin D and calcium, zinc, iodine and, above all, vitamin B12 | - | - | can cause deficiencies in | #2 |
Oral food supplements especially fortified foods | increase | the nutritional deficiencies | - | - | are recommended in these cases to restore | #3 |
vegan diet | decrease | chronic non-communicable degenerative diseases, such as metabolic syndrome (MetS) | - | - | generally reduces the risk of developing | #4 |
Plant-based diets (PBDs) are increasingly consumed by the Italian population and around the world. In particular, among PBDs, the vegan diet is a food pattern characterized by the exclusion of all animal-origin foods. What drives people to adopt this model are mainly ethical, health and environmental reasons. A vegan diet, if well-balanced and varied, can help in achieving and maintaining an optimal state of health. However, this nutritional approach, if not well-balanced, can cause deficiencies in proteins, ω-3 fatty acids, iron, vitamin D and calcium, zinc, iodine and, above all, vitamin B12. Oral food supplements especially fortified foods are recommended in these cases to restore the nutritional deficiencies. A vegan diet generally reduces the risk of developing chronic non-communicable degenerative diseases, such as metabolic syndrome (MetS) and, in addition, requires fewer natural resources for food production than an omnivorous diet. The aim of this review is to analyze the possible impact of the vegan diet on MetS onset and its treatment.