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Vegetarian Diet (vegetarian + diet)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	76%
Life Sciences	15%

Selected Abstracts

Vegetarian Diets and Weight Status

NUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 4 2006
Susan E. Berkow PhD
The increasing global health problems of overweight and obesity are associated with coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and certain cancers, among other health concerns. Vegetarian diets are associated with reduced body weight, lower incidence of certain chronic disease, and lower medical costs compared with non-vegetarian diets. We reviewed the literature to ascertain the extent to which and by what mechanism(s) a plant-based diet may mediate body weight. [source]

Blood Pressure Regulation and Vegetarian Diets

NUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 1 2005
Susan E. Berkow PhD
Hypertension affects approximately 50 million individuals in the United States and approximately 1 billion worldwide. Although heredity plays a role in blood pressure variability, diet and lifestyle exert considerable influence in blood pressure regulation. This report reviews the evidence of the relationship between a vegetarian diet and blood pressure regulation and presents data as to the putative mechanisms of action. [source]

Vegetarian Diets and Weight Status

Development and characterization of an animal model of carnitine deficiency

FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 6 2001
Markus Spaniol
Mammals cover their carnitine needs by diet and biosynthesis. The last step of carnitine biosynthesis is the conversion of butyrobetaine to carnitine by butyrobetaine hydroxylase. We investigated the effect of N -trimethyl-hydrazine-3-propionate (THP), a butyrobetaine analogue, on butyrobetaine hydroxylase kinetics, and carnitine biosynthesis and body homeostasis in rats fed a casein-based or a vegetarian diet. The Km of butyrobetaine hydroxylase purified from rat liver was 41 ± 9 µmol·L,1 for butyrobetaine and 37 ± 5 µmol·L,1 for THP, and THP was a competitive inhibitor of butyrobetaine hydroxylase (Ki 16 ± 2 µmol·L,1). In rats fed a vegetarian diet, renal excretion of total carnitine was increased by THP (20 mg·100 g,1·day,1 for three weeks), averaging 96 ± 36 and 5.3 ± 1.2 µmol·day,1 in THP-treated and control rats, respectively. After three weeks of treatment, the total carnitine plasma concentration (8.8 ± 2.1 versus 52.8 ± 11.4 µmol·L,1) and tissue levels were decreased in THP-treated rats (liver 0.19 ± 0.03 versus 0.59 ± 0.08 and muscle 0.24 ± 0.04 versus 1.07 ± 0.13 µmol·g,1). Carnitine biosynthesis was blocked in THP-treated rats (,0.22 ± 0.13 versus 0.57 ± 0.21 µmol·100 g,1·day,1). Similar results were obtained in rats treated with the casein-based diet. THP inhibited carnitine transport by rat renal brush-border membrane vesicles competitively (Ki 41 ± 3 µmol·L,1). Palmitate metabolism in vivo was impaired in THP-treated rats and the livers showed mixed steatosis. Steady-state mRNA levels of the carnitine transporter rat OCTN2 were increased in THP-treated rats in skeletal muscle and small intestine. In conclusion, THP inhibits butyrobetaine hydroxylase competitively, blocks carnitine biosynthesis in vivo and interacts competitively with renal carnitine reabsorption. THP-treated rats develop systemic carnitine deficiency over three weeks and can therefore serve as an animal model for human carnitine deficiency. [source]

Changing from a mixed to self-selected vegetarian diet , influence on blood lipids

JOURNAL OF HUMAN NUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 5 2002
F. Robinson
Abstract Objective To observe any changes in serum concentrations of lipids, when UK meat-eaters switch to a self selected vegetarian diet for 6 months. Design Observational study using capillary blood samples and 3-day estimated dietary diary. Setting Free-living subjects in the North-West of England. Subjects Twelve male and 31 female adult volunteers aged between 18 and 42 years. Outcome measures Serum lipids; nutrient intake and anthropometric measurements at baseline and 6 months after switching to a self-selected vegetarian diet. Results Total energy intake and amount of energy derived from saturated fatty acids decreased significantly after changing to a vegetarian diet (P < 0.05) whereas energy derived from carbohydrate, and intakes of nonstarch polysaccharide intake increased. On switching to a vegetarian diet, total cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations were not significantly changed, but HDL-C was 21% higher than at baseline (1.21 mmol L,1 vs. 1.47 mmol L,1; P = 0.001). Conclusions These results suggest that beneficial changes to diet occurred on changing to a self-selected vegetarian diet. Changing to a self-selected vegetarian diet appears to be one way of achieving a better blood lipid profile. [source]

Blood Pressure Regulation and Vegetarian Diets

The effect of diet on total antioxidant status, ceruloplasmin, transferrin and ferritin serum levels in phenylketonuric children

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 10 2010
Kleopatra H Schulpis
Abstract Objectives:, To investigate the effect of diet on total antioxidative status (TAS), transferrin, ferritin and ceruloplasmin serum levels in phenylketonuric (PKU) children. Patients and methods:, Seventeen poorly controlled PKU children underwent clinical and laboratory examinations before, ,off diet', and 60 days after adhering to their special diet ,on diet', whereas controls (N = 24) were examined once. Blood chemistry was performed with the appropriate methodologies. Results:, Phenylalanine levels differed significantly among the examined groups. Lipids and lipoproteins were higher in ,off diet' than in ,on diet' group, except of high density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein AI that remained unaffected. Total antioxidative status (386 ± 30 vs 204 ± 23 ,mol/L, p < 0.001), ferritin (48.2 ± 2.3 vs 33.0 ± 2.8 ,g/L, p < 0.001) and ceruloplasmin (40.02 ± 2.5 vs 25.5 ± 2.8 mg/dL, p < 0.001) levels were significantly higher in ,on diet' patients' group compared to ,off diet' one. The low lipoprotein and the high TAS and ferritin levels in patients with PKU ,on diet' may be related to the vegetarian diet and the rich in iron formula supplementation. Conclusions:, The low ferritin levels found in ,off diet' patients with PKU may be attributed to a decreased liver production of ceruloplasmin, which evaluation may be a useful tool for the follow-up of patients with PKU. [source]

Vegetarian and vegan diets in type 2 diabetes management

NUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 5 2009
Neal D Barnard
Vegetarian and vegan diets offer significant benefits for diabetes management. In observational studies, individuals following vegetarian diets are about half as likely to develop diabetes, compared with non-vegetarians. In clinical trials in individuals with type 2 diabetes, low-fat vegan diets improve glycemic control to a greater extent than conventional diabetes diets. Although this effect is primarily attributable to greater weight loss, evidence also suggests that reduced intake of saturated fats and high-glycemic-index foods, increased intake of dietary fiber and vegetable protein, reduced intramyocellular lipid concentrations, and decreased iron stores mediate the influence of plant-based diets on glycemia. Vegetarian and vegan diets also improve plasma lipid concentrations and have been shown to reverse atherosclerosis progression. In clinical studies, the reported acceptability of vegetarian and vegan diets is comparable to other therapeutic regimens. The presently available literature indicates that vegetarian and vegan diets present potential advantages for the management of type 2 diabetes. [source]

Geographical patterns of human diet derived from stable-isotope analysis of fingernails

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 1 2006
Gabriela B. Nardoto
Abstract Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of human fingernails were measured in 490 individuals in the western US and 273 individuals in southeastern Brazil living in urban areas, and 53 individuals living in a moderately isolated area in the central Amazon region of Brazil and consuming mostly locally grown foods. In addition, we measured the carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of common food items to assess the extent to which these isotopic signatures remain distinct for people eating both omnivorous and vegetarian diets and living in different parts of the world, and the extent to which dietary information can be interpreted from these analyses. Fingernail ,13C values (mean ± standard deviation) were ,15.4 ± 1.0 and ,18.8 ± 0.8, and ,15N values were 10.4 ± 0.7 and 9.4 ± 0.6, for southeastern Brazil and western US populations, respectively. Despite opportunities for a "global supermarket" effect to swamp out carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in these two urbanized regions of the world, differences in the fingernail isotope ratios between southeastern Brazil and western US populations persisted, and appeared to be more associated with regional agricultural and animal production practices. Omnivores and vegetarians from Brazil and the US were isotopically distinct, both within and between regions. In a comparison of fingernails of individuals from an urban city and isolated communities in the Amazonian region, the urban region was similar to southeastern Brazil, whereas individuals from isolated nonurban communities showed distinctive isotopic values consistent with their diets and with the isotopic values of local foods. Although there is a tendency for a "global supermarket" diet, carbon and nitrogen isotopes of human fingernails hold dietary information directly related to both food sources and dietary practices in a region. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Effect on absorption and oxidative stress of different oral Coenzyme Q10 dosages and intake strategy in healthy men

BIOFACTORS, Issue 1-4 2005
R. B. Singh
Abstract Introduction: The effect of various dosages and dose strategies of oral coenzyme Q10 (Q10) administration on serum Q10 concentration and bioequivalence of various formulations are not fully known. Subjects and Methods: In a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial 60 healthy men, aged 18,55 years, were supplemented with various dosages and dose strategies of coenzyme Q10 soft oil capsules (Myoqinon 100 mg, Pharma Nord, Denmark) or crystalline 100 mg Q10 powder capsules or placebo. After 20 days blood levels were compared and oxidative load parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were monitored to evaluate bioequivalence. All the subjects were advised to take the capsules with meals. Blood samples were collected after 12 hours of overnight fasting at baseline and after 20 days of Q10 administration. Compliance was evaluated by counting the number of capsules returned by the subjects after the trial. Results: Compliance by capsule counting was >90%. Side effects were negligible. Serum concentrations of Q10 (average for groups) increased significantly 3,10 fold in the intervention groups compared with the placebo group. Serum response was improved with a divided dose strategy. TBARS and MDA were in the normal ranges at baseline. After 20 days intervention in the 200 mg group TBARS and MDA decreased, but the decrease was only significant for MDA (Fig. 2). Conclusions: All supplementations increased serum levels of Q10. Q10 dissolved in an oil matrix was more effective than the same amount of crystalline Q10 in raising Q10 serum levels. 200 mg of oil/soft gel formulation of Q10 caused a larger increase in Q10 serum levels than did 100 mg. Divided dosages (2 × 100 mg) of Q10 caused a larger increase in serum levels of Q10 than a single dose of 200 mg. Supplementation was associated with decreased oxidative stress as measured by MDA-levels. Indians appear to have low baseline serum coenzyme Q10 levels which may be due to vegetarian diets. Further studies in larger number of subjects would be necessary to confirm our findings. [source]

Epidemiology of gallstone disease in Chandigarh: A community-based study

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 5 2001
Virendra Singh
Abstract Background: Cholelithiasis is frequent in our country (India), and is a common cause for abdominal surgery. We studied the prevalence of gallstone disease and its association with various risk factors in the city of Chandigarh. Methods: A house-to-house survey of residents aged 15 years or above in a subsector of Chandigarh was conducted as a part of a pilot survey. All individuals with a history of gallstone disease, and equal or more number of asymptomatic individuals were asked to attend the outpatient department of the Postgraduate Medical Institute. On the basis of the pilot survey, the sample size to be studied was 2648 and we screened 2649 persons. Results: Two hundred and fifty-four individuals attended the outpatient services of the Institute, and 248 underwent an ultrasound. There were 37 symptomatic and 211 asymptomatic individuals (male : female, 93:155). Gallstone disease was seen in 24 out of 37 (64.9%) in the symptomatic, and seven out of 211 (3.3%) in the asymptomatic group. Out of these, 27 females and four males had gallstone disease (mean age: 48.30 ± 16.03 years). Approximately 67% of patients were between 20 and 60 years of age. Gallstone disease was more frequently seen in those from high socioeconomic status as compared to middle socioeconomic status (,2 = 8.9, d.f. = 1, P < 0.01), and in multiparous as compared to nulliparous females (,2 = 4.8, d.f. = 1, P < 0.05). Body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, and a vegetarian/non-vegetarian diet did not influence the prevalence of gallstone disease. Conclusions: Gallstone disease is frequent in northern India. Gallstones were frequent in those belonging to high socioeconomic status and multiparous females. However, body mass index, smoking, alcohol or other dietary habits did not make a difference. [source]