Vegetarian diet linked to longer lifespan

Conclusion This large, well-designed cohort study has found an association between vegetarian dietary patterns and reduced risk of death. This study has the advantage that it included a large number of participants consuming various diets. However, as this study is a cohort study, it cannot show cause and effect, as it is possible that other factors are responsible for the associations seen. Although the researchers adjusted for many of these factors, it was found that the vegetarian groups tended to be older, more highly educated and more likely to be married, to drink less alcohol, to smoke less, to exercise more and to be thinner. The reduced risk of death may be due to other lifestyle factors of vegetarians rather than diet. In addition, the study has some other limitations, which were pointed out by the researchers: The study had a relatively short follow-up. Although the average follow-up was almost six years, this is quite short to address how dietary patterns might affect the risk of death. Dietary patterns were only measured at baseline, and it is possible that dietary patterns change over time. The researchers included in the ‘vegetarian’ category people who eat fish and meats, but not more than once per week. This is not what a vegetarian diet is traditionally taken to mean. This study was also conducted in a select population sample of Seventh Day Adventists, who have particular health and lifestyle characteristics. They tend to be much heal...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Lifestyle/exercise Food/diet Source Type: news