RESEARCH REVEALS: PLANT-BASED DIETS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT DIABETES SURVIVAL RATES

A new study suggests that following a healthy plant-based diet may help individuals with cardiometabolic conditions—such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease—live longer.

• Plant-based diets are often linked to better health, but not all plant-based diets are created equal.
• A new study highlights that for those with cardiometabolic conditions, like diabetes or heart disease, a healthy plant-based diet may boost longevity—while an unhealthy one might raise the risk of early death.
• Experts advise consuming more nutrient-rich plant-based foods instead of refined grains, sweets, and animal products to enhance cardiometabolic health.

Scientists analyzed health information from approximately 78,000 individuals with these conditions, drawing data from comprehensive longitudinal research projects in Britain, America, and China.

Adhering strictly to nutritious plant-focused eating patterns corresponded with lower overall death rates, including reduced mortality from heart disease and cancer. Conversely, following unhealthy plant-based dietary patterns was associated with higher mortality risk.

This research will be showcased at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25), scheduled for March 29, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois.

Although additional studies are warranted, these findings strengthen the mounting evidence supporting wholesome plant-centered diets for enhanced health outcomes and extended lifespan, especially among those with metabolic and cardiovascular conditions.

HEALTHY VS UNHEALTHY PLANT-BASED DIETS: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Researchers analyzed data from participants with cardiometabolic conditions across three major observational studies: * 55,000 adults from the U.K. Biobank (2006–2022) * 18,000 adults from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES) (1999–2018) * Nearly 4,500 adults from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study (CLHLS) (2006–2018) The participants’ diets were assessed at a single point in time through 24-hour dietary recall interviews or diet questionnaires administered at the beginning of each study.

Although this approach is common, it relies on self-reported data accuracy and does not capture potential dietary changes over time. The researchers then assigned each participant a score on two plant-based diet indices: one reflecting a healthful pattern and the other an unhealthful pattern. The healthful plant-based diet index awarded higher scores to individuals consuming more nutritious plant foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, tea, and coffee.

Conversely, higher scores on the unhealthful plant-based diet index were associated with greater intake of refined grains, potatoes, sugar-sweetened beverages, and animal products. Using statistical methods, the researchers estimated the risk of mortality over the follow-up period, adjusting for various factors including age, sex, and other dietary and lifestyle variables.

HEALTHY PLANT-BASED DIET PATTERN MAY REDUCE MORTALITY RISK

The findings suggest that individuals with cardiometabolic conditions may be able to increase their lifespan by adopting a healthy, plant-based diet. Specifically, following a nutritious plant-based diet was associated with a 17% to 24% reduction in the risk of death from any cause, cardiovascular disease, or cancer.

Conversely, greater adherence to an unhealthy plant-based diet was linked to a 28% to 36% higher risk of death from these causes. These associations were consistent across various subgroup analyses, including age, race, sex, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity levels, and different cardiometabolic conditions.

Although the U.K. and U.S. participants had a younger average age (57 and 59 years) compared to the Chinese participants (average age 84), the results remained consistent across countries.

It is important to note that these are observational findings and do not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Nonetheless, they underscore the potential benefits of healthy plant-based diets in improving health outcomes, particularly for those with cardiometabolic conditions.

“We plan to further explore how plant-based diets relate to mortality and life expectancy among these patients across different races, nationalities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, such as Latin American populations,” stated Zhangling Chen, MD, PhD, from the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in Changsha, China, and the study’s lead author, in an interview with Medical News Today.

“These future studies will help us better understand the role of plant-based diets in cardiometabolic health and assist in developing tailored interventions for diverse populations and cultural contexts,” Chen added.

HOW PLANT-BASED DIETS MAY IMPACT LONGEVITY

Cardiometabolic conditions are shaped by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, with diet playing a pivotal role.

This study highlights the significance of overall dietary patterns, especially the contrasting impacts of healthy versus unhealthy plant-based diets, in managing these conditions and lowering the risk of early death.

Thomas M. Holland, MD, MS, a physician-scientist and assistant professor at the RUSH Institute for Healthy Aging, RUSH University, College of Health Sciences, who was not involved in the study, discussed how these diets affect cardiometabolic health.

“The differences in mortality risk between a healthy plant-based diet and an unhealthy one are largely driven by their effects on lipid metabolism (cholesterol), blood sugar regulation, inflammation, and vascular health,” he explained.

He further elaborated that a healthy plant-based diet—rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and healthy beverages—can promote cardiometabolic well-being by:

• lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while boosting HDL cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke
• enhancing insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, supporting diabetes management, and decreasing complications
• reducing oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, which are key contributors to cardiovascular disease
• improving endothelial function and vascular elasticity for better heart health

“[A]n unhealthy plant-based diet, high in refined sugars and grains, sugar-sweetened beverages, and processed plant-based foods, can worsen cardiometabolic health by causing blood sugar spikes, promoting inflammation and oxidative stress, and impairing lipid metabolism, ultimately increasing the risk of heart disease and potentially early mortality,” — Thomas M. Holland, MD, MS

Additionally, Holland emphasized that although diet is a crucial factor, other elements such as stress, sleep, and social determinants also significantly influence cardiometabolic outcomes.

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