Researchers at Loma Linda University, California assessed the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in people following different types of vegetarian diets compared with that in non vegetarians. The study population comprised 22,434 men and 38,469 women. The type of vegetarian diet was categorized based on a food frequency questionnaire.
Mean body mass index (weight) was lowest in vegans 23.6 kg/m2 and incrementally higher in lacto-ovo vegetarians 25.7 kg/m2, pesco-vegetarians 26.3 kg/m2, and 27.3 kg/m2 in semi-vegetarians. Mean body weight for non vegetarians was 28.8 kg/m2.
Prevalence of type 2 diabetes increased from 2.9% in vegans to 7.6% in non vegetarians; the prevalence was intermediate in participants consuming lacto-ovo 3.2%, pesco 4.8%, or semi-vegetarian 6.1% diets.
After adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, education, income, physical activity, television watching, sleep habits, alcohol use, and body mass index, . . . vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians, pesco-vegetarians, and semi-vegetarians all had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes than non vegetarians.
The body mass index difference between vegans and non vegetarians indicates a substantial potential of vegetarianism to protect against obesity. Increased conformity to vegetarian diets protected against risk of type 2 diabetes after lifestyle characteristics and body mass index were taken into account. Pesco and semi vegetarian diets afforded intermediate protection.
A pesco-vegetarian is a vegetarian who includes fish in their diets, but no other forms of meat.
Ovo-Lacto vegetarians prefer not consume meat or flesh of any kind, but do incorporate eggs and dairy products into meals.
Source:
Type of Vegetarian Diet, Body Weight, and Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes
Serena Tonstad, MD, PHD
Diabetes Care May 2009 vol. 32 no. 5 791-796
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