Men following an unhealthy vegan diet are more likely to die earlier than those who eat healthy plant-based foods, scientists have said.
Researchers have found that men who eat a high intake of unhealthy plant-based foods such as roast potatoes, vegan desserts and white bread are at risk of becoming frail in mid-life.
Meanwhile, men eating a diet high in fruit, vegetables and low-fat alternatives like tofu did not become frail in mid-life, meaning they were less likely to experience an early death.
Frailty defines the group of older people who are at highest risk of adverse outcomes such as falls, disability, admission to hospital, or the need for long-term care.
- AI chatbots can give medical advice that could lead to death
- Tirzepatide linked to lower risk of death in people with type 2 diabetes
- Staying active could help reduce risk of death linked to long periods of sitting
As a person becomes frailer, they are 80% more at risk of death upon hospital admissions, prior research has reported.
Findings from this study have revealed that men from poorer neighbourhoods who follow an unhealthy plant-based diet are 18% more at risk of becoming frail compared to the average person. Fizzy drinks can also trigger the development of frailty, the researchers have said.
Throughout the trial, the scientists looked at the health data and diets of 73,000 middle-aged people.
The participants were assigned a score for their unhealthy and healthy plant-based food intake, as well for the animal products they consume.
In the study, the participants were defined as frail if they met at least three out of five of the following criteria: feeling tired or having low energy on more than half the days in the past fortnight, none or little exercise per week, slower than usual walking pace, weight loss within the previous year and lower grip strength than expected.
- 150 minutes of aerobic exercise key for significant weight loss
- Social media influencers raking in thousands for promoting weight loss jabs
- Rise of dangerous weight loss black market sparks concern
The authors said: “A remarkable finding was that eating more unhealthy plant-based foods didn’t seem to increase frailty risk among higher income Brits, those defined as having a household income in excess of £52,000 per year.
“The difference in frailty between the healthy and unhealthy plant-based diets could be due to the contrasting nutrient levels in these foods.”
They added: “A diet packed with fresh fruit and vegetables contains more vitamins and minerals essential to the healthy functioning of the body than one full of refined grains like white bread and fizzy drinks, despite both being vegetarian.
“Women in the study, on average, consumed more calcium from dairy than men, and this could potentially help ward off frailty.”
The study was published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging.
