Vegetarians, those who avoid meat, represent 5% of the US population, and vegans, additionally avoiding dairy and eggs, 2%.
Vegetarian diets confer protection against
- cardiovascular diseases,
- cardiometabolic risk factors,
- some cancers,
- total mortality.
Compared to lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets, vegan diets seem to offer additional protection for
- obesity,
- hypertension,
- type-2 diabetes,
- cardiovascular mortality.
Males experience greater health benefits than females.
