Plant-based eating is on the rise, with increasing numbers of people choosing animal-free options globally. And this doesn’t just mean vegans, it’s vegetarians, flexitarians and omnivores too.
This growing success has led to a market value of $43.77bn (€40.61bn) with a projected CAGR of 9.95% over the next five years (Market Digits).
And none of this is surprising as ‘healthful’ plant-based diets have been linked to a range of benefits, including improved gut health, longevity, and slowed cancer progression. Now research, linking a ‘healthy’ plant-based diet to a reduced risk of cardiometabolic disorders, could further boost interest in animal-free.
Could a plant-based diet cut cardiometabolic disorders?
People with cardiometabolic disorders, such as those who are obese, living with diabetes, or heart disease, could significantly improve their chances of living longer by following a ‘healthful’ plant-based diet. That’s according to new research from Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in China.
Unlike previous research, which examined the effects of plant-based diets on the general population, this new study specifically analysed their impact on individuals with cardiometabolic conditions.
“Among populations with cardiometabolic disorders, higher adherence to a healthful plant-based diet was significantly associated with a lower risk of total, cardiovascular and cancer mortality,” says Dr Zhangling Chen, lead author on the study. “More intake of healthy plant-based foods, less intake of unhealthy plant-based foods, and less intake of animal-based foods are all important.”
What are cardiometabolic disorders?
Cardiometabolic disorders impact both cardiovascular health and the body’s ability to process food effectively. They can be caused by genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.
Cardiometabolic disorders can be managed by medications, however diet and other lifestyle choices play a crucial role in preventing their progression to more serious diseases, including advanced heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Researchers analysed data from nearly 78,000 people with cardiometabolic disorders, who participated in large prospective studies in the United Kingdom, United States, and China.
Participants completed dietary questionnaires or 24-hour dietary recall interviews at the beginning of the study. Researchers then assigned scores based on two diet indexes:
- Healthful plant-based diet index: Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and tea and coffee
- Unhealthful plant-based diet index: Refined grains, potatoes, foods high in fat, salt and sugar, and sugar-sweetened beverages
The researchers found that closer adherence to a healthful plant-based diet was associated with a 17% to 24% lower risk of death from any cause, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Meanwhile, closer adherence to an unhealthful plant-based diet brought a 28% to 36% increased risk of death from any cause, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
For the analysis, researchers adjusted for confounding factors such as demographics, dietary needs and lifestyle factors.
Results were found to be consistent across subgroups by age, race, sex, smoker or non-smoker, alcohol intake, body mass index, and physical activity. They were also consistent in people with different types of cardiometabolic disorders and in people from the UK, US and China.
“These findings may help individuals with cardiometabolic disorders make healthier lifestyle choices,” says Chen. “It is important to identify and develop cost-effective strategies to promote health among individuals with cardiometabolic disorders.”
How could this impact the plant-based industry?
The plant-based industry is growing. However, it’s faced backlash in recent years, over the use of ultra-processing methods and low-quality ingredients in some plant-based products.
This new understanding of the benefits of a healthful plant-based diet could steer food and beverage manufacturers towards the types of plant-based foods that support health, signalling a turning point for the industry as a whole.
Interest in adopting a plant-based diet remains high, with an estimated 6.62m Europeans now identifying as vegan (Statista), highlighting the demand for healthful plant-based products.
Source: Healthy Plant-Based Foods Could Help People with Cardiometabolic Disorders Live Longer
Published online: 18 March 2025
Presented to: The American College of Cardiology
Authors: Zhangling Chen et al.
