The effect of vegetarian diets on plasma lipid and platelet levels.

Vegetarian diets may diminish the risk of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis development.

Platelet fatty acid and plasma lipid levels are important markers of cardiovascular health. This study was carried out to determine the effect of vegetarian diets on serum lipid and platelet concentrations. 25 omnivores (control group), 15 lactovegetarians, and 10 strict vegetarians were studied for this research work. Their platelet function, linoleic acid, and arachidonic acid concentrations as well as their plasma thromboxane, prostacyclin, cholesterol, high-, and low-density lipoprotein levels were measured.

Researchers discovered that while low- and high-density lipoprotein serum concentrations were significantly reduced in only the strict vegetarian group, cholesterol and platelet arachidonic acid levels were lower in the both vegetarian groups than in the control group. However platelet linoleic acid concentrations were higher in the vegetarians than in the omnivores. The same levels of platelet function, thromboxane, and prostacyclin were found in the serum of both the vegetarian and control groups. These results show that vegetarian diet may reduce the risk of developing several cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis.