Cited by 316Nutritional Studies and DietAgriculture Sustainability and Environmental ImpactDietary Effects on Health

Vegetarian diets, low-meat diets and health: a review

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McEvoy, Claire T, Temple, Norman, Woodside, Jayne V·2012·Public Health Nutrition

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To review the epidemiological evidence for vegetarian diets, low-meat dietary patterns and their association with health status in adults. DESIGN: Published literature review focusing primarily on prospective studies and meta-analyses examining the association between vegetarian diets and health outcomes. RESULTS: Both vegetarian diets and prudent diets allowing small amounts of red meat are associated with reduced risk of diseases, particularly CHD and type 2 diabetes. There is limited evidence of an association between vegetarian diets and cancer prevention. Evidence linking red meat intake, particularly processed meat, and increased risk of CHD, cancer and type 2 diabetes is convincing and provides indirect support for consumption of a plant-based diet. CONCLUSIONS: The health benefits of vegetarian diets are not unique. Prudent plant-based dietary patterns which also allow small intakes of red meat, fish and dairy products have demonstrated significant improvements in health status as well. At this time an optimal dietary intake for health status is unknown. Plant-based diets contain a host of food and nutrients known to have independent health benefits. While vegetarian diets have not shown any adverse effects on health, restrictive and monotonous vegetarian diets may result in nutrient deficiencies with deleterious effects on health. For this reason, appropriate advice is important to ensure a vegetarian diet is nutritionally adequate especially for vulnerable groups.

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  • The mechanisms through which hPDI could reduce CHD risk are likely shared with the mechanisms for type 2 diabetes risk reduction.

    “The mechanisms through which hPDI could reduce CHD risk are likely shared with the mechanisms for type 2 diabetes risk reduction.(2, 24–32)”
  • These dietary factors could aid in weight loss/maintenance, enhance glycemic control and insulin regulation, improve lipid profile, reduce blood pressure, improve vascular health, decrease inflammation, and foster more favorable diet-gut microbiome interactions, thereby lowering CHD risk.

    “all of which could aid in weight loss/maintenance, enhance glycemic control and insulin regulation, improve lipid profile, reduce blood pressure, improve vascular health, decrease inflammation, and foster more favorable diet- gut microbiome interactions (e.g. through lowered levels of trimethylamine N-oxide), thereby lowering CHD risk.”
  • Plant-based diets have been associated with a lower risk of various diseases, including coronary heart disease.

    “Plant-based diets have been associated with a lower risk of various diseases,(1–3) including coronary heart disease (CHD),(4–9) the leading global cause of death.(10)”
  • The chemistry of nitrite in the stomach might partly explain why patients with achlorhydria and non-vegetarians eating large amounts of cured meats are at risk of developing gastric cancer.

    “This might partly explain why patients with achlorhydria and non-vegetarians eating large amounts of cured meats are at risk of developing gastric cancer [137,138,139,140,141,142].”

    From NO-Rich Diet for Lifestyle-Related Diseases (2015) · cites this paper as [142]

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Authors
McEvoy, C. T., Temple, N., & Woodside, J. V.
Affiliations
  • Queen's University Belfast (GB)
  • Athabasca University (CA)
Corresponding author
McEvoy, Claire T
Venue
Public Health Nutrition
Published
2012-04-03
Volume
15
Issue
12
Pages
2287-2294
ISSN
  • 1368-9800 (ISSN-L)
  • 1475-2727
OpenAlex
W2147344958
Cited by
316
References
84
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 31 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 4
FWCI
2.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Public Health Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (Queen's University Belfast) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Dietary Effects on Health
Keywords
vegetarian diet, plant-based diet, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer prevention, red meat, processed meat, prudent diet, nutritional deficiency, dietary recommendations, adult health outcomes
MeSH terms
Coronary Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Diet, Health, Health Status, Humans, Meat, Neoplasms, Diet, Vegetarian

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