Vegetarian Diet Cuts Cholesterol In Young Women

[Guest guest]

SOURCE: American Journal of Cardiology 2000;85.

 

 

April 15, 2000

 

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Premenopausal women may be able to dramatically

lower their cholesterol levels by eating a low-fat, vegetarian diet, new

research suggests.

 

In just 2 months of restricting their intake of fat to 10% of their total

caloric intake and avoiding animal products, 35 young women reduced their LDL

( " bad " ) cholesterol levels by nearly 17% and total cholesterol by 13%, according

to the recent study by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Their

report is published in the April 15th issue of the American Journal of

Cardiology.

 

Based on these findings, everyone should consider reducing their consumption of

fat and avoid meat and meat-based products, advised Dr. Donna Hurlock, one of

the authors of the study. " The bottom line is humans were designed a lot like

gorillas and gorillas are vegetarians, " she told Reuters Health.

 

The low-fat diet was also found to reduce menstrual cramps in premenopausal

women, a factor that motivated many of them to stick to what might be considered

a very restrictive eating pattern, Hurlock noted.

 

The 6-month study was based on a low-fat, vegetarian diet consisting of grains,

vegetables, legumes and fruits, but absolutely no animal products - the only

source of dietary cholesterol.

 

For the first 1 to 2 months, the women ate their normal diet and had their

cholesterol levels measured. After this initial period, they were divided into

two groups: those who continued to eat as they always had but took a vitamin B12

supplement (a vitamin found mainly in animal products); and women who followed

the low-fat, vegetarian diet. After the 2-month period, the groups switched

diets.

 

However, the diet did have a downside. While LDL ( " bad " ) cholesterol and total

cholesterol fell, so did HDL ( " good " ) cholesterol, Hurlock told Reuters Health.

" I wish it showed that HDL went up, but it didn't. " The researchers do not know

why this occurred, or why triglycerides (fatty acids) rose when a low level of

triglycerides is considered healthier, she admitted.

 

In addition to lowering their cholesterol, women benefited by losing about one

pound per week while on the diet.

 

As a result of these findings, Hurlock suggests that all Americans should follow

a diet comprised of only 10% to 15% of fat. " I recommend it for my 8-year-old

daughter and for anybody who wants to stay healthy, " she said.

 

 

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