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SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Antioxidant: Long-term vegetarians have a better antioxidant status and lower coronary heart disease risk than do healthy omnivores. Compared with the omnivores, vegans had significantly higher blood concentrations of beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E, as well as higher erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity. Breast Cancer: One study showed Japanese women who followed a western-style diet were eight times more likely to develop breast cancer compared to those consuming a plant-based diet. Diabetes Mellitus Type 2: It has also been found that type 2 diabetics have better control of their blood glucose when eating a vegan diet (findings attributed to the fact that a diet low in fat and high in fiber allowed insulin to work more effectively). Fibromyalgia: In a study in 2000, subjects underwent a strict 3-month, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet rich in lactobacteria. Subjects revealed significant improvement in pain, joint stiffness, quality of sleep, and a variety of health questionnaires. They study concluded that a vegan diet had positive effects on fibromyalgia symptoms - at least for the short period of the study. Homocysteine Levels: Elevated homocysteine levels are considered a cardiovascular disease risk. In several studies, vegan diets were associated with substantial higher homocysteine levels compared to omnivores. It is unclear whether the increase in homocysteine levels is high enough to pose as a cardiovascular risk factor. Prostate Cancer: A study in 2007 looked at levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in patients with prostate cancer who either ate a regular diet, or one with increased vegetables/soy protein. It is thought that high levels of IGF-1 are associated with prostate cancer, while it's binding protein (IGFBP) seems to be protective. At 1 year into the study, the group with increased soy protein had an increase in IGFBP compared to the control group. Both groups, however, had increased IGF-1. Authors of the study state that because both meat protein and soy protein increase IGF-1, it is important to men with early stage of prostate cancer to not exceed dietary protein recommendations. Recurrent Kidney Stones: For people who are more prone to developing kidney stones, a diet low or devoid of animal protein will lead to a decreased excretion of calcium, oxalate, and uric acid - the main components of urinary tract stones. Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Norwegian study followed patients with rheumatoid arthritis for one year. Subjects were initially started on a gluten-free vegan diet for approximately 3 months, followed by a lactovegetarian diet for the remainder of the year. At the end of the study, researchers found that there was significant improvement in the number of tender joints, Ritchie's articular index, number of swollen joints, pain score, duration of morning stiffness, grip strength, ESR, CRP, white blood cell count, and healt assessment questionnaire score. In the control group, only pain score improved significantly. The effects on arthritis correlate with a reduction in antibodies to food antigens. Weight Loss: A study compared weight loss through a low-fat vegan diet and that of a National Cholesterol Education Program diet for 2 years in post-menopausal women. Researchers found that the vegan diet was associated with significantly greater weight loss than the NCEP did at 1 and 2 years.
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