Meta-analysis of Vegetarian Diets and Incident Cardiovascular Outcomes

Vegetarian and vegan diets have been shown to reduce cardiometabolic risk factors for chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and have been associated with decreased risk of these chronic diseases. The role of vegetarian and/or vegan dietary patterns and incident cardiovascular outcomes still remains unclear. To address these uncertainties, the investigators propose to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the totality of evidence from prospective cohort studies to distinguish the association of vegetarian and/or vegan dietary patterns on the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases. This proposed knowledge synthesis was commissioned by the Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group (DNSG) of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and will be used to inform clinical practice and dietary guidelines, help improve health outcomes, and guide future research design.