Key result
Vegetarian diet links to lower brachial artery resistance without altering arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women.
Why the study?
Does a vegetarian diet improve arterial elasticity and resistance in healthy postmenopausal women compared to an omnivore diet?
Cross-Sectional (n=90)
No
Does a vegetarian diet improve arterial elasticity and resistance in healthy postmenopausal women compared to an omnivore diet?
While postmenopausal vegetarians do not show better arterial elasticity, they have decreased brachial artery resistance, though lower vitamin B12 and higher homocysteine levels may attenuate cardiovascular benefits.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
No arterial elasticity benefit seen with vegetarianism in postmenopausal women; leaves open net CV impact of lower brachial resistance amid B12/homocysteine differences.
BACKGROUND: Vegetarianism is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. However, studies of arterial function in vegetarians are limited. METHODS: This study investigated arterial function in vegetarianism by comparing 49 healthy postmenopausal vegetarians with 41 age-matched omnivores. The arterial function of the common carotid artery was assessed by carotid duplex, while the pulse dynamics method was used to measure brachial artery distensibility (BAD), compliance (BAC), and resistance (BAR). Fasting blood levels of glucose, lipids, lipoprotein (a), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, homocysteine, and vitamin B12 were also measured. RESULTS: Vegetarians had significantly lower serum cholesterol, high-density and low-density lipoprotein, and glucose compared with omnivores. They also had lower vitamin B12 but higher homocysteine levels. Serum levels of lipoprotein (a) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were no different between the two groups. There were no significant differences in carotid beta stiffness index, BAC, and BAD between the two groups even after adjustment for associated covariates. However, BAR was significantly lower in vegetarians than in omnivores. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age and pulse pressure were two important determinants of carotid beta stiffness index and BAD. Vegetarianism is not associated with better arterial elasticity. CONCLUSION: Apparently healthy postmenopausal vegetarians are not significantly better in terms of carotid beta stiffness index, BAC, and BAD, but have significantly decreased BAR than omnivores. Prevention of vitamin B12 deficiency might be beneficial for cardiovascular health in vegetarians.
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Su et al. (2011) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy postmenopausal women (n=90). Vegetarian diet vs. Omnivore diet was evaluated on Carotid beta stiffness index, brachial artery compliance (BAC), and brachial artery distensibility (BAD). Vegetarianism in postmenopausal women was not associated with significant differences in carotid beta stiffness index or brachial artery distensibility, but did show significantly decreased brachial artery resistance compared to omnivores.
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