Low-Calorie Vegetarian Versus Mediterranean Diets for Reducing Body Weight and Improving Cardiovascular Risk Profile: CARDIVEG Study (Cardiovascular Prevention With Vegetarian Diet).
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of a low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (Vd) versus a low-calorie Mediterranean diet (MD) on body weight, cardiovascular risk factors, and other health markers in overweight omnivores with low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk.
Results Summary
Both diets similarly reduced body weight, BMI, and fat mass, but Vd was more effective in lowering LDL cholesterol, while MD led to greater reductions in triglycerides. No significant differences were found in oxidative stress markers or inflammatory cytokines, except for interleukin-17, which improved only with MD.
Population
Overweight omnivores with low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk (mean age: 51.1 years, 78% female).
Effective Dosage
Not specified (low-calorie diets).
Duration
3 months per diet (crossover design).
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet | decrease | body weight | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | -1.88 kg | similar and significant reductions | #1 |
low-calorie Mediterranean diet | decrease | body weight | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | -1.77 kg | similar and significant reductions | #2 |
low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet | no change | body weight | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | - | no differences | #3 |
low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet | decrease | body mass index | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | - | similar results | #4 |
low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet | decrease | fat mass | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | - | similar results | #5 |
low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet | decrease | low-density lipoprotein cholesterol | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | 9.10 mg/dL | significant differences | #6 |
low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet | decrease | triglycerides | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | 12.70 mg/dL | significant differences | #7 |
low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet | decrease | vitamin B12 levels | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | 32.32 pg/mL | significant differences | #8 |
low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet | no change | oxidative stress markers | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | - | no significant difference | #9 |
low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet | no change | inflammatory cytokines | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | - | no significant difference | #10 |
low-calorie Mediterranean diet | decrease | interleukin-17 | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | - | improved | #11 |
low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet | decrease | body weight | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | - | effective in reducing | #12 |
low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet | decrease | body mass index | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | - | effective in reducing | #13 |
low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet | decrease | fat mass | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | - | effective in reducing | #14 |
low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet | decrease | low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | - | more effective in reducing | #15 |
low-calorie Mediterranean diet | decrease | triglyceride levels | overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile | - | greater reduction | #16 |
BACKGROUND: Only a few randomized dietary intervention studies that investigated the effects of lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (Vd) in clinically healthy omnivorous subjects are available. METHODS: We randomly assigned to overweight omnivores with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile a low-calorie Vd compared with a low-calorie Mediterranean diet (MD), each lasting 3 months, with a crossover design. The primary outcome was the difference in body weight, body mass index, and fat mass changes between the 2 groups. Secondary outcomes were differences in circulating cardiovascular disease risk parameters changes between the 2 groups. RESULTS: One hundred eighteen subjects (mean age: 51.1 years, females: 78%) were enrolled. The total participation rate at the end of the study was 84.7%. No differences between the 2 diets in body weight were observed, as reported by similar and significant reductions obtained by both Vd (-1.88 kg) and MD (-1.77 kg). Similar results were observed for body mass index and fat mass. In contrast, significant differences between the 2 interventions were obtained for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and vitamin B12 levels. The difference between the Vd and MD groups, in terms of end-of-diet values, was recorded at 9.10 mg/dL for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=0.01), 12.70 mg/dL for triglycerides (P<0.01), and 32.32 pg/mL for vitamin B12 (P<0.01). Finally, no significant difference was found between Vd and MD interventions in oxidative stress markers and inflammatory cytokines, except for interleukin-17, which improved only in the MD group. Forty-six participants during the Vd period and 35 during the MD period reached the target values for ≥1 cardiovascular risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: Both Vd and MD were effective in reducing body weight, body mass index, and fat mass, with no significant differences between them. However, Vd was more effective in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, whereas MD led to a greater reduction in triglyceride levels. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02641834.