Effects of 7 days on an ad libitum low-fat vegan diet: the McDougall Program cohort.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to document the effects of a low-fat, high-carbohydrate, plant-based diet on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes over 7 days.
Results Summary
The study found significant favorable changes in weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, and cardiovascular risk after 7 days on the diet. Most participants experienced reduced medication use while still achieving improved health markers.
Population
1615 participants in a 10-day residential dietary intervention program (2002-2011).
Effective Dosage
Ad libitum consumption of a low-fat (≤10% of calories), high-carbohydrate (~80% of calories), moderate-sodium, purely plant-based diet.
Duration
7 days
Interactions
Antihypertensive and antihyperglycemic medications were reduced or discontinued at baseline.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low-fat (≤10% of calories), high-carbohydrate (~80% of calories), moderate-sodium, purely plant-based diet ad libitum for 7 days | decrease | commonly tested biomarkers that are used to predict future risks for cardiovascular disease and metabolic diseases | 1615 participants in a 10-day residential dietary intervention program | - | results in significant favorable changes | #1 |
low-fat (≤10% of calories), high-carbohydrate (~80% of calories), moderate-sodium, purely plant-based diet ad libitum for 7 days | decrease | weight | 1615 participants in a 10-day residential dietary intervention program | 1.4 (1.8) kg | weight loss | #2 |
low-fat (≤10% of calories), high-carbohydrate (~80% of calories), moderate-sodium, purely plant-based diet ad libitum for 7 days | decrease | total cholesterol | 1615 participants in a 10-day residential dietary intervention program | 22 (29) mg/dL | decrease | #3 |
low-fat (≤10% of calories), high-carbohydrate (~80% of calories), moderate-sodium, purely plant-based diet ad libitum for 7 days | decrease | systolic blood pressure | 1615 participants in a 10-day residential dietary intervention program | 8 (18) mm Hg | decreased | #4 |
low-fat (≤10% of calories), high-carbohydrate (~80% of calories), moderate-sodium, purely plant-based diet ad libitum for 7 days | decrease | diastolic blood pressure | 1615 participants in a 10-day residential dietary intervention program | 4 (10) mm Hg | decreased | #5 |
low-fat (≤10% of calories), high-carbohydrate (~80% of calories), moderate-sodium, purely plant-based diet ad libitum for 7 days | decrease | blood glucose | 1615 participants in a 10-day residential dietary intervention program | 3 (11) mg/dL | decreased | #6 |
low-fat (≤10% of calories), high-carbohydrate (~80% of calories), moderate-sodium, purely plant-based diet ad libitum for 7 days | decrease | risk of a cardiovascular event within 10 years | patients whose risk of a cardiovascular event within 10 years was >7.5% at baseline | from >7.5% to 5.5% (>27% drop) | dropped | #7 |
BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic evidence, reinforced by clinical and laboratory studies, shows that the rich Western diet is the major underlying cause of death and disability (e.g, from cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes) in Western industrialized societies. The objective of this study is to document the effects that eating a low-fat (≤10% of calories), high-carbohydrate (~80% of calories), moderate-sodium, purely plant-based diet ad libitum for 7 days can have on the biomarkers of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of measurements of weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids and estimation of cardiovascular disease risk at baseline and day 7 from 1615 participants in a 10-day residential dietary intervention program from 2002 to 2011. Wilcoxon's signed-rank test was used for testing the significance of changes from baseline. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range, IQR) weight loss was 1.4 (1.8) kg (p < .001). The median (IQR) decrease in total cholesterol was 22 (29) mg/dL (p < .001). Even though most antihypertensive and antihyperglycemic medications were reduced or discontinued at baseline, systolic blood pressure decreased by a median (IQR) of 8 (18) mm Hg (p < .001), diastolic blood pressure by a median (IQR) of 4 (10) mm Hg (p < .001), and blood glucose by a median (IQR) of 3 (11) mg/dL (p < .001). For patients whose risk of a cardiovascular event within 10 years was >7.5% at baseline, the risk dropped to 5.5% (>27%) at day 7 (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: A low-fat, starch-based, vegan diet eaten ad libitum for 7 days results in significant favorable changes in commonly tested biomarkers that are used to predict future risks for cardiovascular disease and metabolic diseases.