European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Many anthropologists believe that early humans ate mainly plant foods, being more like gatherers than hunters. According to them, the natural diet of man consists of fruits, nuts and grains, and not meat¹.This view is supported by the fact that the human digestive system resembles that of other plant eaters rather than meat eaters ².

A Vegetarian diet pattern is that where nothing implicating the death of animals should serve as food. Vegetarians do not eat meat or meat products, but may consume milk, dairy products and eggs ³. Vegetarians usually consume more fruits and vegetables than non-vegetarians and because of their restricted consumption of animal sources of foods, they have lower intake of saturated fats and increased intake of fibre and various kinds of antioxidants, compared to those of non-vegetarian origin ⁴. This type of diet helps to improve antioxidant status which lowers oxidative stress and reduces blood lipid levels and increases longevity⁵. Serum lipids are important determinants of cardiovascular risks. Behaviour associated with urbanization such as increased saturated fat consumption and decreased physical activity have been well described and is associated with adverse changes in the lipid profile⁶. Elevated levels of cholesterols, triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) - cholesterol are documented as risk factors of atherogenesis⁷.

Diets rich in animal protein having higher amounts of fatty acids, are converted to various lipoproteins in the liver leading to increased formation of adipose tissue, facilitating atheromatous plaques inside the arteries. As a result, there is narrowing of the arterial wall leading to increased risk of hypertension, stroke and coronary arterial diseases⁸.

Consumption of vegetable-based diets lowers the blood lipoprotein which reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) resulting in reduced risk of deaths; leading to higher life expectancy among vegetarians. The present study is taken up to evaluate the effects produced by the type of dietary intake, by studying the serum lipid profile in vegetarians compared to non-vegetarians among young adults.

Aims and objectives

The main aim of the study is to compare the lipid profile levels among vegetarians and non-vegetarians in young adults.

A total of 100 subjects (50 vegetarians and 50 non-vegetarians) were selected from Kurnool medical college, Kurnool

Inclusion criteria

Age group of 18-40 years, both males and females with informed consent were included.

Exclusion criteria:

• Subjects with history of hypercholesterolemia, hereditary dyslipidemias.
• Subjects on drugs that affect the lipid profile, hypertensive’s, diabetics, heart diseases and thyroid diseases were excluded.
• Smoking and Alcohol.

Method of collection of data:

Venous blood samples (5 ml) were collected from 100 subjects after an overnight fast for determination of serum lipid profile. The serum was separated within 2 hours of blood collection using a centrifuge at 1000 rpm for about 20 minutes at room temperature.

Estimation of TC (cholesterol oxidase – peroxidase method), TG (GPO-PAP method) and HDL (precipitation/magnesium precipitation method) was carried out using enzymatic method and VLDL & LDL were calculated by Freidwald’s formula.

Quantitative estimation was done using semiauto analyzer (Erba chem-5x ). All the metabolic profiles were estimated in mg/dl. The statistical analysis was done by student t test using Graph pad software and the results were expressed as mean ± SD. P value < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Microsoft word and Excel have been used to generate graphs, tables etc.

Table 1 and Graph 1 shows the mean ± SD of TC in vegetarians is 173 ± 11.40 and in non-vegetarians is 220.12 ± 12.73. The difference is statistically significant with respect to p value < 0.0001. The mean ± SD of LDL levels in vegetarians is 96.94 ± 11.33 and in non-vegetarians is 138.82 ± 12.04. The difference is statistically significant with respect to p Value < 0.0001. The mean ± SD of HDL levels in vegetarians is 52.82 ± 2.34 and in non-vegetarians is 41.94 ± 1.4. The difference is statistically significant with respect to p Value < 0.0001. The mean ± SD of TG levels in vegetarians is 116.02 ± 9.08 and in non-vegetarians is 196.32 ± 27.91. The difference is statistically significant with respect to p Value < 0.0001. The mean ± SD of VLDL levels in vegetarians is 23.24 ± 1.92 and in non-vegetarians is 39.36 ± 5.55. The difference is statistically significant with respect to p Value < 0.0001.

Table 1 shows the comparison of lipid profile among vegetarians and Non vegetarians.

Graph 1 shows the comparison of lipid profile among vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

Table 2 and Graph 2 shows the mean ± SD of LDL/HDL levels in vegetarians is 1.83 ± 0.23 and in non-vegetarians is 3.3 ± 0.29. The difference is statistically significant p Value < 0.0001. The mean ± SD of TC/LDL levels in vegetarians is 1.79 ± 0.10 and in non-vegetarians is 1.58 ± 0.07. The difference is statistically significant (p Value < 0.0001). The mean ± SD of TC/HDL levels in vegetarians is 3.27 ± 0.24 and in non-vegetarians is 5.24 ± 0.29. The difference is statistically significant (p value   < 0.0001).

Table 2: Comparative study of Lipid profile of Vegetarians and Non vegetarians.

Graph 2: Comparative study of Lipid profile of vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

Indian population has a very high incidence of ischaemic heart diseases from those seen in western population^9. CVDs are the number one cause of death globally; more people die annually from CVDs than from any other cause. Out of the 16 million deaths under the age of 70 due to non-communicable diseases, 82% are in low- and middle-income countries and 37% are caused by CVDs ¹⁰. Numerous studies indicate that tobacco use, obesity—particularly abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, diabetes, low consumption of fruits and vegetables, and sedentary lifestyles are important determinants of CAD in India¹¹. Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing behavioural risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol using population-wide strategies. Most epidemiological studies on the lipid profile of vegetarians and non- vegetarians concluded that vegetarians had a favourable lipid profile than non-vegetarians ^12,13. In the present study, there is a positive correlation between serum lipid profile and the type of diet. So, there is a need to encourage healthy dietary patterns, enhanced physical activity and regular assessment of biochemical parameters among young adults.

The Present study concluded that normal lipid profiles and cardio protective HDL is normally higher in vegetarians. Specific evaluation, treatment and prevention strategies must be implemented to reduce the CVD burden and promote health in non-vegetarians.

In conclusion of my study suggests that a healthy dietary pattern maintains a favourable lipid profile and may contribute to the suppression of inflammation associated with atherosclerosis. Consumption of vegetable-based diet should be encouraged to reduce the high incidence of cardiovascular diseases

Limitations of study

The lipid profile of an individual also depends on exercise and physical activities. These factors were not taken into account in the present study. This study did not involve a strictly-controlled diet analysis (Food record). A well conducted diet analysis would have provided a representation of the amount, type, and composition of nutrients (proteins, fats, and carbohydrates) consumed by the subjects. More sensitive biochemical parameters like apo B100/ apo A-1, LP(a) which have been established as better predictor for CVD could have been used.

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