Vegetarian diet: panacea for modern lifestyle diseases?

We review the beneficial and adverse effects of vegetarian diets in various medical conditions. Soybean-protein diet, legumes, nuts and soluble fibre significantly decrease total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholester ol and triglycerides. Diets rich in fibre and complex carbohydrate, and res tricted in fat, improve control of blood glucose concentration, lower insul in requirement and aid in weight control in diabetic patients. An inverse a ssociation has been reported between nut, fruit, vegetable and fibre consum ption, and the risk of coronary heart disease. Patients eating a vegetarian diet, with comprehensive lifestyle changes, have had reduced frequency, du ration and severity of angina as well as regression of coronary atheroscler osis and improved coronary perfusion. An inverse association between fruit and vegetable consumption and stroke has been suggested. Consumption of fru its and vegetables, especially spinach and collard green, was associated wi th a lower risk of age-related ocular macular degeneration. There is an inv erse association between dietary fibre intake and incidence of colon and br east cancer as well as prevalence of colonic diverticula and gallstones. A decreased breast cancer risk has been associated with high intake of soy be an products. The beneficial effects could be due to the diet (monounsaturat ed and polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals, fibre, complex carbohydrate, antioxidant vitamins, flavanoids, folic acid and phytoestrogens) as well as the associated healthy lifestyle in vegetarians. There are few adverse eff ects, mainly increased intestinal gas production and a small risk of vitami n B-12 deficiency.