New research involving over 400,000 participants across six European countries demonstrates a strong link between plant-based diets and a lower risk of multimorbidity, including cancer and cardiometabolic diseases.
A new multinational study suggests that adopting a plant-based diet can significantly reduce the risk of developing multiple chronic diseases.
Conducted by researchers from the University of Vienna, along with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in France and Kyung Hee University in South Korea, the study analyzed the dietary habits and health outcomes of over 400,000 adults aged 37 to 70 across six European countries.
The findings, published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, reveal that individuals who follow a plant-based diet have a notably lower risk of multimorbidity of cancer and cardiometabolic disease (diabetes and cardiovascular diseases).
This comprehensive research used data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) and the UK Biobank, spanning Italy, Spain, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark.
For instance, data from the UK Biobank indicated that adults adhering to a plant-based diet are 32% less likely to develop multimorbidity -- defined as the presence of two or more chronic diseases -- compared to those who consume fewer plant-based foods. This significant reduction highlights the potential of dietary changes to positively impact health outcomes.
"You don't have to cut out animal products entirely," lead author Reynalda Córdova, a nutritional epidemiologist at the University of Vienna, said in a news release. "Shifting towards a more plant-based diet can already have a positive impact."
The study also underscores the benefits of plant-based diets for various age groups. Both middle-aged individuals (under 60) and older adults (60 and above) with a high adherence to plant-based diets showed a lower risk of developing multimorbid conditions, particularly cancer and cardiometabolic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
"Our study highlights that a healthy, plant-based diet not only influences individual chronic diseases but can also reduce the risk of developing multiple chronic diseases at the same time, in both middle-aged and older people," Córdova added.
Co-author Karl-Heinz Wagner from the University of Vienna, who is also the president of the Austrian Society for Nutrition, emphasized the broader implications, adding: "The results show how important a predominantly plant-based diet is for our health and thus reinforce the new Austrian dietary recommendations, which emphasize plant-based food with a low proportion of animal-based foods. A co-benefit of a plant-based diet are lower greenhouse gas emissions and land use."
The researchers pinpointed specific foods that contribute to a healthier diet, including higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, alongside reduced consumption of meat and meat products. These food choices were shown to enhance health significantly and help prevent multimorbidity as people age.
The researchers concluded that public health measures and dietary guidelines should focus on promoting plant-based foods while allowing modest amounts of animal-based products to help prevent chronic diseases.