Vegetarian diets on anthropometric, metabolic and blood pressure outcomes in people with overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors' conclusion
In comparison to an omnivorous diet, VDs may reduce weight and glucose, but not blood pressure or other metabolic or anthropometric outcomes. However, the QoE was mostly very low. Larger RCTs are still needed to evaluate the effects of VD on anthropometric, metabolic factors, and blood pressure in people with overweight and obesity.
Study context
- Population
- People with overweight and obesity; Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus until February 2, 2022
- Participants
- 1,628 people9 RCTs
- Comparison
- Vegetarian diets vs omnivore diets
- Outcome
- Anthropometric risk factors (weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat percentage)
Methodological detailsrandom-effects meta-analysis, GRADE, Quality of evidence (GRADE) very low for most outcomes
- Random-effects meta-analysis
- GRADE
- Quality of evidence (GRADE) very low for most outcomes
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Anthropometric outcomes
Each group vs omnivore dietsMD (weight), kg (95% CI)
VDs
−3.60(−4.75 to −2.46)
Each group vs omnivore dietsEstimate (95% CI)
VDs
MD (waist circumference) −3.00 cm(−6.20 to 0.20)
VDs
MD (hip circumference) −0.86 cm(−3.46 to 1.74)
Each group vs omnivore dietsMD (BMI), kg/m2 (95% CI)
VDs
−0.87(−1.80 to 0.06)
Further pooled results
| Outcome | MD (glucose) (mg/dL) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Metabolic and blood pressure outcomesVDsvs Omnivore diets | −10.64 (−15.77 to −5.51) | |
| −20−10010Difference, mg/dL (linear scale) |
| Outcome | MD (HbA1c) (%) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Metabolic and blood pressure outcomesVDsvs Omnivore diets | −0.40 (−0.89 to 0.10) | |
| −1−0.500.5Difference, % (linear scale) |
| Outcome | MD (insulin) (mU/L) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Metabolic and blood pressure outcomesVDsvs Omnivore diets | −3.83 (−8.06 to 0.40) | |
| −10−505Difference, mU/L (linear scale) |
| Outcome | Estimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Metabolic and blood pressure outcomesVDsvs Omnivore diets | MD (SBP) −0.25 mmHg (95% CI −2.58 to 2.07) | |
| Metabolic and blood pressure outcomesVDsvs Omnivore diets | MD (DBP) −1.57 mmHg (95% CI −3.93 to 0.78) | |
| −4−2024Difference, mmHg (linear scale) |
Subgroups by type of VD (4 RCTs lacto-ovo-vegetarian, 5 RCTs vegan)
- Similar results to the main analyses
Original publication
Vegetarian diets on anthropometric, metabolic and blood pressure outcomes in people with overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 1 August 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →