TOPLINE:
In a randomized controlled trial of identical twins, a healthy vegan diet significantly improved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting insulin, and weight reduction when compared to a healthy omnivorous diet.
METHODS:
22 pairs of healthy adult identical twins (34 women, mean age 39, mean BMI 25.9) were randomized at random to follow either a vegan or an omnivorous diet for eight weeks, with one twin per pair.
Meal delivery services were used to supply diet-specific meals for the first four weeks. Participants cooked their own diet-appropriate meals and snacks for the last four weeks.
Changes in body weight and fasting insulin were among the secondary outcomes, with LDL-C changes being the main focus.
TAKEAWAY:
Compared to twins consuming an omnivorous diet, twins following a vegan diet had a substantial mean decrease in LDL-C of 13.9 mg/dL after 8 weeks.
While both diet groups saw weight loss, the vegan diet resulted in a significant mean drop of 1.9 kg in body weight and 2.9 μIU/mL in fasting insulin after 8 weeks.
At eight weeks, the vegan diet group also showed a greater but nonsignificant absolute median drop in fasting levels of trimethylamine N-oxide, HDL-C, triglycerides, vitamin B12, and glucose.
IN PRACTICE:
“Our findings support a prior study that found adopting a vegan diet can enhance cardiovascular health. The researchers came to the conclusion that clinicians should think about advocating plant-based diets to lower cardiometabolic risk factors and to support environmental benefits.
