Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Vegan Diet Versus the American Heart Association-Recommended Diet in Coronary Artery Disease Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of a vegan diet versus an American Heart Association-recommended diet on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and other cardiovascular risk markers in patients with coronary artery disease.
Results Summary
The vegan diet significantly reduced hsCRP by 32% compared to the American Heart Association diet, with no significant differences in body mass index, waist circumference, glycemic control, or most lipid parameters. A nonsignificant 13% reduction in LDL cholesterol was also observed with the vegan diet.
Population
Patients with coronary artery disease on guideline-directed medical therapy (n=100).
Effective Dosage
Not specified (dietary intervention with provided groceries and counseling).
Duration
8 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
a vegan diet | decrease | high-sensitivity C-reactive protein | participants with coronary artery disease | 32% | resulted in a significant 32% lower | #1 |
a vegan diet | no change | body mass index | participants with coronary artery disease | - | did not significantly differ | #2 |
a vegan diet | no change | waist circumference | participants with coronary artery disease | - | did not significantly differ | #3 |
a vegan diet | no change | markers of glycemic control | participants with coronary artery disease | - | no significant differences | #4 |
a vegan diet | decrease | low-density lipoprotein cholesterol | participants with coronary artery disease | 13% | a nonsignificant 13% reduction | #5 |
a vegan diet | no change | other lipid parameters | participants with coronary artery disease | - | no significant differences | #6 |
Background Dietary interventions may play a role in secondary cardiovascular prevention. hsCRP (High-sensitivity C-reactive protein) is a marker of risk for major adverse cardiovascular outcomes in coronary artery disease. Methods and Results The open-label, blinded end-point, EVADE CAD (Effects of a Vegan Versus the American Heart Association-Recommended Diet in Coronary Artery Disease) trial randomized participants (n=100) with coronary artery disease to 8 weeks of a vegan or American Heart Association-recommended diet with provision of groceries, tools to measure dietary intake, and dietary counseling. The primary end point was high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. A linear regression model compared end points after 8 weeks of a vegan versus American Heart Association diet and adjusted for baseline concentration of the end point. Significance levels for the primary and secondary end points were set at 0.05 and 0.0015, respectively. A vegan diet resulted in a significant 32% lower high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (β, 0.68, 95% confidence interval [0.49-0.94]; P=0.02) when compared with the American Heart Association diet. Results were consistent after adjustment for age, race, baseline waist circumference, diabetes mellitus, and prior myocardial infarction (adjusted β, 0.67 [0.47-0.94], P=0.02). The degree of reduction in body mass index and waist circumference did not significantly differ between the 2 diet groups (adjusted β, 0.99 [0.97-1.00], P=0.10; and adjusted β, 1.00 [0.98-1.01], P=0.66, respectively). There were also no significant differences in markers of glycemic control between the 2 diet groups. There was a nonsignificant 13% reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with the vegan diet when compared with the American Heart Association diet (adjusted β, 0.87 [0.78-0.97], P=0.01). There were no significant differences in other lipid parameters. Conclusions In patients with coronary artery disease on guideline-directed medical therapy, a vegan diet may be considered to lower high-sensitivity C-reactive protein as a risk marker of adverse outcomes. Clinical Trial Registration URL : http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT 02135939.