A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health, and Aging found that adherence to a healthy plant-based diet is associated with a lower risk of death from all causes and cardiovascular disease among older individuals. Conversely, an unhealthy plant-based diet was found to increase the risk of these conditions. The study did not find a significant association between a mixed plant- and animal-based diet and changes in mortality risk. Additionally, no meaningful connection between any plant-based diets and the risk of death from cancer was observed in the study.
The study, which utilized data from the European Eye Study (EUREYE), investigated the impact of plant-based diets on longevity by assessing their effect on all-cause death, cardiovascular disease mortality, and cancer mortality in older individuals. The researchers categorized three types of plant-based diets among 597 participants from the Spanish province of Alicante: healthy pro-vegetarian (hPVG), unhealthy pro-vegetarian (uPVG), and general pro-vegetarian (gPVG). Participants’ dietary habits were tracked through questionnaires, and deaths were monitored over a 12-year follow-up period through governmental records.
Compared to those with the lowest adherence, individuals who moderately adhered to a healthy pro-vegetarian diet experienced a 41% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 53% lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality. Conversely, those who closely followed an unhealthy pro-vegetarian diet had a 53% increased risk of all-cause death and a 110% increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. The study found that adherence to a general pro-vegetarian diet was not associated with all-cause or specific cause mortality risk, which aligns with previous research findings.
Food-frequency questionnaires allowed participants to report their consumption of 131 food items in standard portions. An example of a healthy pro-vegetarian diet meal would include nutrient-dense plant foods, plant-based proteins, whole grains, nuts, and healthy oils while eliminating processed foods and unhealthy fats. In contrast, an unhealthy pro-vegetarian diet would consist of processed plant-based foods high in refined grains and sugars, unhealthy fats, and may lack key nutrients. A general pro-vegetarian diet includes plant-based foods and some animal-based foods, with a focus on plant foods and the inclusion of moderate animal products.
The lack of an association between any plant-based diets and the likelihood of dying from cancer observed in the study may be due to the study’s specific parameters and duration, rather than a definitive absence of association. Factors such as the length of the study, the number of cancer deaths recorded, and potential environmental influences on cancer risk were discussed by experts. While the study provides valuable insights into the benefits of plant-based diets on longevity and mortality, further research is needed to fully understand the long-term health effects of different dietary patterns.