According to the researchers, genes play an important role in whether a person responds well to a vegetarian diet
Thinking of giving up meat and becoming a vegetarian or vegan? Your heart says yes, but your genes don’t, according to a new study.
According to the researchers, genes play an important role in whether a person responds well to a vegetarian diet.
People with a certain genetic variant may experience an increase in calcium levels after switching to a vegetarian diet, which results in a decrease in calcium for most, the researchers report in the journal. PLOS Genetics.
Similarly, another variant resulted in increased testosterone levels, which are usually low in most vegetarians.
According to the researchers, a third option may cause vegetarians to have reduced kidney function, which is mostly improved by a vegetarian diet.
For the study, researchers analyzed data on more than 150,000 people, identifying 2,300 people who followed a strict vegetarian diet.
They found that vegetarians generally have lower cholesterol levels, which is good for heart health.
However, the researchers note that a vegetarian diet is also associated with lower levels of vitamin D, which can affect bone health and immune function.
Vegetarians also have higher levels of triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood that can lead to heart disease.
Ultimately, the researchers concluded that genetics play such an important role in diet that in the future each person may have to follow a highly individualized diet to maintain good health, as the same dietary recommendations do not fit everyone.