Reduced Risk for Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance Associated with Ovo-Lacto-Vegetarian Behavior in Female Buddhists: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

IntroductionThe association of vegetarian status with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is not clear. In Asia, Buddhists often have vegetarian behavior for religious rather than for health reasons. We hypothesize that the vegetarian in Buddhism is associated with better metabolic profiles, lower risk for the MetS and insulin resistance (IR).MethodsWe enrolled 391 female vegetarians (∼80% lacto-ovo-vegetarians) and 315 non-vegetarians from health-checkup clinics at a Buddhist hospital in Taiwan.ResultsThe vegetarian status was associated with lower body mass index, smaller waist circumference, lower total cholesterol, lower low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and lower HDL-C in multivariate linear regression analyses. Despite having lower HDL-C level, the vegetarians had significantly lower total cholesterol/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios. After adjusting the other covariates, the risks for the MetS were lower for ovo-lacto-vegetarians of 1–11 years and >11 years respectively by 54% (odds ratio [OR] = 0.46, 95%C.I.:0.26–0.79) and 57% (OR = 0.43, 95%C.I.:0.23–0.76) compared to non-vegetarians by the IDF criteria. Likewise, they were lower respectively by 45% (OR = 0.55, 95%C.I.:0.32–0.92) and 42% (OR = 0.58, 95%C.I.:0.33–0.997), for the MetS by the modified NCEP criteria. In the subgroup of non-diabetic subjects, the vegetarians also had lower risk for IR by HOMA compared to the non-vegetarians (OR = 0.71, 95%C.I.:0.48–1.06).ConclusionThe vegetarian behavior, mainly lacto-ovo-vegetarian, related to Buddhism, although not meant for its health effects, is associated with reduced risk for the MetS and IR and may potentially provide metabolic and cardiovascular protective effects in women.

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“…Numerous studies have shown that people consuming vegetarian and also vegan diet had lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared with omnivorous healthy people. [29][30][31] Although the exact mechanism is not clear, a recent public-based study showed that Apo A-1 levels were significantly lower in vegan women than in their carnivorous peers when adjusted for body mass index. 32 As Apo A-1 is an important structural apolipoprotein of the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol molecule, diminished Apo A-1 levels might be a causative factor for lower highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol levels in vegetarians.…”

Current Information and Asian Perspectives on Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Pregnancy, Lactation, and Infancy: Systematic Review and Practice Recommendations from an Early Nutrition Academy Workshop

“…2), as documented in the Japanese National Health and Nutrition Survey [139] and in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [140,141]. Vegetarian and vegan diets are commonly followed not only in India but also in other Asian countries and have recently gained popularity particularly among young women of childbearing age [142,143,144,145]. Vegetarian diets provide very little, and vegan diets provide basically no, preformed LC-PUFA.…”

A perspective on vegetarian dietary patterns and risk of metabolic syndrome

“…The prevalence of MetS tended to be lower (33•9 %) compared with non-vegetarian (47•9 %). Chiang et al (2013) (31) Case -control (n 706) Vegetarian (55 %) approximately 80 % Lacto-ovo Non-vegetarian ( (32) Case -control (n 202) Lacto-ovo-vegetarian (47 %) Non-vegetarian (53 %)…”