Health Biomarkers in Adults Are More Closely Linked to Diet Quality Attributes Than to Plant-Based Diet Categorization

Abstract

Although plant-based diets are promoted for healthy outcomes, these diets are not synonymous with high-quality diets. Plant-based diets can include highly processed, less healthful foods, including savory snacks, pastries, and sugary fruit drinks. This cross-sectional study examined the diet quality of vegetarian and omnivorous adults, matched for gender, age, and adiposity, and related diet quality to standard health biomarkers. Diet quality was assessed using the Rapid Eating and Activity Assessment for Participants Short Version questionnaire. Participants (17 vegetarians and 16 omnivores; 28.2 ± 8.9 years; 22.5 ± 2.7 kg/m2) were non-smokers and healthy by self-report. The median duration of adherence to the vegetarian diet was 27 months. Physical activity level and diet quality did not differ significantly between diet groups. Moreover, health biomarkers did not differ by diet groups. When participants were regrouped by low versus high diet quality, health biomarkers differed significantly between groups for fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, triglyceride (TG)/HDL ratio, and blood folate, with more favorable levels in the group with high diet quality. These data suggest that health biomarkers more closely align with diet quality attributes than with plant-based diet categorization. Thus, messaging focused on healthy diet attributes may lead to better health outcomes than the simple promotion of plant-based diets.

Health-Related Quality of Life, Blood Pressure, and Biochemical and Anthropometric Profile in Vegetarians and Nonvegetarians

“…Furthermore, beyond the possible protective effects of plant-based diets, it is important to consider that those vegetarians who have been following this regimen for less than 5 years may have similar LDL values compared to nonvegetarians; the beneficial results of a healthy lipid profile would be obtained, if there is permanent and regular long-term monitoring of the vegetarian diet. Although, theoretically, plant-based diets are closely linked with the healthy diet and quality of life benchmark [ 41 ], it is nevertheless likely that some people following vegetarian diets actually have an unhealthy eating pattern [ 42 ].…”

The Safe and Effective Use of Plant-Based Diets with Guidelines for Health Professionals

“…Subjects who adhere to a healthy plant-based diet are reported to have a lower BMI, waist circumference, and visceral fat than those who adhere to 'unhealthy' plant-based diets [103,104]. Researchers have noted that diet quality may be more important than dietary patterns when comparing vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores, as the adiposity values did not differ significantly between these groups [105]. The weight loss experienced on a hypocaloric lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet was similar to that observed with a hypocaloric Mediterranean diet [106].…”

Food Liking-Based Diet Quality Indexes (DQI) Generated by Conceptual and Machine Learning Explained Variability in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Young Adults

“…Healthy behaviors, such as physical activity [10] and a healthy overall diet, can decrease the risk of cardiometabolic disorders. The healthiness of the diet or diet quality may provide a better predictor of disease risk [11] than specific nutrients [12] or restricted food patterns [13]. However, the index of diet quality must be sensitive enough to associate with chronic disease risk factors in young adults [14].…”