# Vegetarian, vegan diets and multiple health outcomes: a systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies

The Balance of Health
Canonical: https://thebalanceofhealth.com/sources/dinu-2017-vegetarian-vegan-diets-and-multiple-health-outcomes
Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

## status

reviewed

## id

src-dinu-2017-vegetarian-vegan-meta

## slug

dinu-2017-vegetarian-vegan-diets-and-multiple-health-outcomes

## title

Vegetarian, vegan diets and multiple health outcomes: a systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies

## authors

- Monica Dinu
- Rosanna Abbate
- Gian Franco Gensini
- Alessandro Casini
- Francesco Sofi

## publication

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition

## year

2017

## doi

10.1080/10408398.2016.1138447

## url

https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2016.1138447

## sourceType

meta-analysis

## studyType

meta-analysis

## topicIds

- cardiovascular
- cancer

## pillarIds

- health

## geography

Multiple countries

## sampleSize

86 cross-sectional and 10 cohort studies

## keyFindings

- Vegetarian diets were associated with lower BMI, cholesterol and blood glucose, and with a lower risk of ischaemic heart disease (around 25% lower) and cancer incidence (around 8% lower). No significant reduction in all-cause mortality was found.

## supportsClaimIds

- claim-plant-based-heart-risk

## challengesClaimIds

- claim-vegan-diet-healthier-overall

## limitations

- Observational studies cannot prove cause; vegetarians in these cohorts differ from others in smoking, exercise and income.
- Few studies isolated vegan (as opposed to vegetarian) diets.

## quality

moderate

## qualityRationale

Large meta-analysis, but of observational studies only.

## Original sources