Healthy Plant-Based Diet Versus Unhealthy Plant-Based Diet Ameliorates the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

by | Jan 18, 2024 | Diabetes, Fruits and Vegetables, Vegetarianism

Written by Chrystal Moulton, Staff Writer. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the highest quartile of healthy plant-based diet had a 24% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those in the lowest quartile.

diabetesType 2 Diabetes is a preventable metabolic disorder affecting millions of individuals throughout the world1. Research shows that a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of diabetes 56%1. Vegan and vegetarian diets are associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes2,3. However, the quality of the plant-based diet is essential to lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes. In the current trial, researchers investigated the association between a healthy plant based diet versus an unhealthy plant based diet with the risk of type 2 diabetes4.

The analysis was based on data from the UK biobank, consisting of 500,000 volunteers between the age of 40 and 69 years old. Volunteers completed online questionnaires on dietary habits along with a 24-hour dietary recall assessment at baseline. Participants were subsequently followed up with 4 times to assess dietary habits during the study period. The healthy and unhealthy plant-based diet indices were calculated across 17 food groups. Social economic status, health status and demographic data was collected at baseline. Researchers also collected health history, anthropometric measurements, and blood samples at baseline. The incidents of Type 2 diabetes were determined through the UK bio bank inpatient hospital data on admissions and diagnoses. The incidence of type 2 diabetes was calculated from the date of recruitment to either their death, hospitalization, or the end of follow-up. Sensitivity analysis was conducted along with mediation analysis to rule out reverse causality and examine specific cardiometabolic risk factors that could affect the association between the plant-based diet indices and type 2 diabetes risk.

Data from 113,097 individuals was used for this analysis. The average age was 55.8 years old. A total of 2628 participants developed type 2 diabetes over 12 years of follow-up. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the highest quartile of healthy plant-based diet had a 24% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those in the lowest quartile. Furthermore, participants in the highest quartile of unhealthy plant-based diet had a 37% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those in the lowest quartile. Tea, coffee, and vegetable consumption was inversely associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes. Positive associations, however, were observed for refined grains, sugary drinks, meat, and potatoes.  Sensitivity analysis showed no heterogenous data (p= 0.35). Mediation analysis revealed that BMI and waist circumference were the strongest mediators in the association between type 2 diabetes risk and healthy plant-based diet (28%) followed by HbA1c (11%). In the relationship between unhealthy plant-based diet and the risk of type 2 diabetes, waste circumference (17%) and triglycerides (13%)were the strongest mediators. In other words, for both plant-based diets, weight played a significant role in the association between diet and risk of type 2 diabetes.

In the end, this analysis showed that individuals who consumed a healthy plant-based diet had a 24% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The mediation analysis demonstrated that weight and glucose metabolism accounted for 39% of that association. Meanwhile, Individuals consuming an unhealthy plant-based diet were at 37% risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This analysis emphasized the importance of a quality plant-based diet in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Additional research will be needed to verify these results.

Source: Thompson, Alysha S., Catharina J. Candussi, Anna Tresserra-Rimbau, Amy Jennings, Nicola P. Bondonno, Claire Hill, Solomon A. Sowah, Aedín Cassidy, and Tilman Kühn. “A healthful plant-based diet is associated with lower type 2 diabetes risk via improved metabolic state and organ function: A prospective cohort study.” Diabetes & Metabolism 50, no. 1 (2024): 101499.

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Posted January 17, 2024.

Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.

References:

  1. Zhang Y, Pan XF, Chen J, et al. Combined lifestyle factors and risk of incident type 2 diabetes and prognosis among individuals with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Diabetologia. Jan 2020;63(1):21-33. doi:10.1007/s00125-019-04985-9
  2. Pollakova D, Andreadi A, Pacifici F, Della-Morte D, Lauro D, Tubili C. The Impact of Vegan Diet in the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. Jun 21 2021;13(6)doi:10.3390/nu13062123
  3. Viguiliouk E, Kendall CW, Kahleová H, et al. Effect of vegetarian dietary patterns on cardiometabolic risk factors in diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). Jun 2019;38(3):1133-1145. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2018.05.032
  4. Thompson AS, Candussi CJ, Tresserra-Rimbau A, et al. A healthful plant-based diet is associated with lower type 2 diabetes risk via improved metabolic state and organ function: A prospective cohort study. Diabetes & metabolism. Nov 28 2023;50(1):101499. doi:10.1016/j.diabet.2023.101499