Vegetarians beat meat eaters when it comes to many health biomarkers

A new study led by Glasgow University has found that vegetarians, defined as people who do not eat meat including fish, have many beneficial biomarkers that refer to the risk of lower diseases compared to people who eat meat. However, the benefits are not found throughout the board, with vegetarians also found to have certain biomarkers related to health.

New research, which was set for presentations at the virtual European Congress on obesity, involved data reported by more than 177,000 adults in the UK, 4,111 of which reported eating a meat-free vegetarian diet. The researchers contributed the factors that could affect data, including things such as consumption of alcohol and smoking.

After accounting for possible influences, the researchers found that vegetarians had a significantly lower level of biomarkers ‘which showed the risk of lower diseases, including those associated with cardiovascular disease, liver function, IGF-1, creatinine, and cholesterol’ bad ‘- When compared to people who eat meat.

However, biomarkers are not ideal throughout the board, with those who report the vegetarian diet to have a lower biomarker level associated with health benefits, including those related to calcium, vitamin D, and ‘good’ cholesterol. In addition, this study also found that vegetarians have a significant level of blood triglycerides and evidence of kidney function worse.

This is an observational study and therefore cannot directly connect the vegetarian diet to reduce health risk. In explaining the reason for the potential benefits observed, the main research researcher Dr. Carlos Celis-Morales said:

Our findings offer genuine food to think about. Besides not eating red and processed meat that has been associated with heart disease and some cancers, people who follow a vegetarian diet tend to consume more vegetables, fruits, and nuts that contain more nutrients, fibers, and potentially useful compounds other. This nutritional difference can help explain why vegetarians appear to have a lower level of biomarker disease that can cause cell damage and chronic diseases.