Editing Plant-based diet (section)

==Health guidelines and research==
[[File:Countries (States and Subnational Regions) and Their Positions on Vegetarian Diets in Food-Based Dietary Guidelines.svg|thumb|[[Countries]] position on [[Vegetarianism|vegetarian diets]] within their food-based [[dietary guidelines]]:<ref name="klapp">{{cite journal |vauthors=Klapp AL, Feil N, Risius A |title=A Global Analysis of National Dietary Guidelines on Plant-Based Diets and Substitutions for Animal-Based Foods |journal=Current Developments in Nutrition |volume=6 |issue=11 |pages=nzac144 |date=November 2022 |pmid=36467286 |pmc=9708321 |doi=10.1093/cdn/nzac144}}</ref>
{{legend|#019c00|Supporters}}
{{legend|#ffc502|Informers}}
{{legend|#ff8800|Less informed}}
{{legend|#c11f1f|Critics}}
{{legend|#bababa|No guidelines}}
{{legend|#616161|Guideline not analysed}}]]

Plant-based diets are of interest in preventing and managing chronic diseases.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Herpich |first1=Catrin |last2=Müller-Werdan |first2=Ursula |last3=Norman |first3=Kristina |title=Role of plant-based diets in promoting health and longevity |journal=[[Maturitas]] |date=2022 |volume=165 |pages=47–51 |doi=10.1016/j.maturitas.2022.07.003|pmid=35914402 }}</ref><ref name="Jafari 1–13">{{cite journal | vauthors = Jafari S, Hezaveh E, Jalilpiran Y, Jayedi A, Wong A, Safaiyan A, Barzegar A | title = Plant-based diets and risk of disease mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies | journal = Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition | pages = 7760–7772 | date = May 2021 | volume = 62 | issue = 28 | pmid = 33951994 | doi = 10.1080/10408398.2021.1918628 | s2cid = 233867757 }}</ref> The [[British Dietetic Association]] stated that a plant-based diet "can support healthy living at every age and life stage", but as with any diet it should be properly planned.<ref name="BDA"/> The [[Government of Canada]] and [[Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada]] issued 2024 guidelines for planning meals with plant-based protein sources, including menu ideas for substituting meats with plant foods.<ref name="can24">{{cite web |title=Canada's food guide: Cooking with plant-based protein foods |url=https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/cooking-skills/cooking-plant-based-protein-foods |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=5 July 2024 |date=2024}}</ref><ref name="hsf24">{{cite web |title=What is a plant-based diet? |url=https://www.heartandstroke.ca/articles/what-is-a-plant-based-diet |publisher=Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada |access-date=5 July 2024 |date=2024}}</ref>

=== Diet quality ===
Not all plant-based foods are equally healthy. Rather, plant-based diets including whole grains as the main form of carbohydrate, unsaturated fats as the main form of dietary fat, an abundance of fruit and vegetables, and adequate n-3 fatty acids can be considered healthy.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Williams |first1=Kim Allan |last2=Patel |first2=Hena |date=25 July 2017 |title=Healthy Plant-Based Diet: What Does it Really Mean? |journal=Journal of the American College of Cardiology |volume=70 |issue=4 |pages=423–425 |doi=10.1016/j.jacc.2017.06.006 |issn=1558-3597 |pmid=28728685|doi-access= }}</ref>

With processed plant-based foods, such as vegan burger patties or chicken-like nuggets, becoming more available, there is also concern that plant-based diets incorporating these foods may become less healthy.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Macdiarmid |first=J. I. |date=11 October 2021 |title=The food system and climate change: are plant-based diets becoming unhealthy and less environmentally sustainable? |journal=The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society |volume=81 |issue=2 |pages=162–167 |doi=10.1017/S0029665121003712 |issn=1475-2719 |pmid=35156593|s2cid=243109615 |doi-access=free |hdl=2164/19207 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

In practice lacto-ovo vegetarians or vegans seem to have a higher overall diet quality compared with nonvegetarians. The reason for this is the closer adherence to health organisation recommendations on consumption of fruits, whole grains, seafood and plant protein and sodium. The higher diet quality in vegetarians and vegans may explain some of the positive health outcomes compared with nonvegetarians.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Parker |first1=Haley W. |last2=Vadiveloo |first2=Maya K. |date=1 March 2019 |title=Diet quality of vegetarian diets compared with nonvegetarian diets: a systematic review |journal=Nutrition Reviews |volume=77 |issue=3 |pages=144–160 |doi=10.1093/nutrit/nuy067 |issn=1753-4887 |pmid=30624697|doi-access=free }}</ref>

=== Vitamin B<sub>12</sub> ===
Plant-based foods are not a reliable source of [[Vitamin B12|vitamin B<sub>12</sub>]] by default. A lack of B<sub>12</sub> is associated with a range of conditions and it is essential for human health.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Niklewicz |first1=Ali |last2=Smith |first2=A. David |last3=Smith |first3=Alison |last4=Holzer |first4=Andre |last5=Klein |first5=Andrew |last6=McCaddon |first6=Andrew |last7=Molloy |first7=Anne M. |last8=Wolffenbuttel |first8=Bruce H. R. |last9=Nexo |first9=Ebba |last10=McNulty |first10=Helene |last11=Refsum |first11=Helga |last12=Gueant |first12=Jean-Louis |last13=Dib |first13=Marie-Joe |last14=Ward |first14=Mary |last15=Murphy |first15=Michelle |date=April 2023 |title=The importance of vitamin B12 for individuals choosing plant-based diets |journal=European Journal of Nutrition |volume=62 |issue=3 |pages=1551–1559 |doi=10.1007/s00394-022-03025-4 |issn=1436-6215 |pmid=36469110|pmc=10030528 }}</ref> Those eating a fully plant-based diet should ensure adequate B<sub>12</sub> intake via supplementation or consumption of fortified foods,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Melina |first1=Vesanto |last2=Craig |first2=Winston |last3=Levin |first3=Susan |date=December 2016 |title=Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Vegetarian Diets |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27886704/ |journal=Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics |volume=116 |issue=12 |pages=1970–1980 |doi=10.1016/j.jand.2016.09.025 |issn=2212-2672 |pmid=27886704}}</ref> such as fortified plant milks or yogurts, nutritional yeast, or fortified cereals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vitamin B12 |url=https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/nutrition-and-health/nutrients/vitamin-b12 |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=The Vegan Society |language=en}}</ref>

Even those eating a plant-based diet including a small amount of animal products are at an increased risk of a lower than recommended B<sub>12</sub> intake<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bruns |first1=Anja |last2=Nebl |first2=Josefine |last3=Jonas |first3=Wiebke |last4=Hahn |first4=Andreas |last5=Schuchardt |first5=Jan Philipp |date=2023-11-28 |title=Nutritional status of flexitarians compared to vegans and omnivores - a cross-sectional pilot study |journal=BMC Nutrition |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=140 |doi=10.1186/s40795-023-00799-6 |doi-access=free |issn=2055-0928 |pmc=10685640 |pmid=38017527}}</ref> without supplementation or regular consumption of fortified foods.

=== Weight ===
Observational studies show that vegetarian diets are lower in energy intake than non-vegetarian diets<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kennedy |first1=E. T. |last2=Bowman |first2=S. A. |last3=Spence |first3=J. T. |last4=Freedman |first4=M. |last5=King |first5=J. |date=April 2001 |title=Popular diets: correlation to health, nutrition, and obesity |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320946/ |journal=Journal of the American Dietetic Association |volume=101 |issue=4 |pages=411–420 |doi=10.1016/S0002-8223(01)00108-0 |issn=0002-8223 |pmid=11320946}}</ref> and that, on average, vegetarians have a lower [[body mass index]] than non-vegetarians.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Koutras |first1=Yiannis |last2=Chrysostomou |first2=Stavri |last3=Poulimeneas |first3=Dimitrios |last4=Yannakoulia |first4=Mary |date=June 2022 |title=Examining the associations between a posteriori dietary patterns and obesity indexes: Systematic review of observational studies |journal=Nutrition and Health |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=149–162 |doi=10.1177/02601060211020975 |issn=0260-1060 |pmid=34100659|s2cid=235370106 }}</ref>

Two reviews of preliminary research found that vegetarian diets practiced over 18 weeks or longer reduced body weight in the range of {{convert|2|-|3|kg}},<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Huang RY, Huang CC, Hu FB, Chavarro JE | title = Vegetarian Diets and Weight Reduction: a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials | journal = Journal of General Internal Medicine | volume = 31 | issue = 1 | pages = 109–116 | date = January 2016 | pmid = 26138004 | pmc = 4699995 | doi = 10.1007/s11606-015-3390-7 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Barnard ND, Levin SM, Yokoyama Y | title = A systematic review and meta-analysis of changes in body weight in clinical trials of vegetarian diets | journal = Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics | volume = 115 | issue = 6 | pages = 954–969 | date = June 2015 | pmid = 25620754 | doi = 10.1016/j.jand.2014.11.016 }}</ref> with vegan diets used for 12 weeks or longer reducing body weight by 4&nbsp;kg.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Termannsen |first1=Anne-Ditte |last2=Clemmensen |first2=Kim Katrine Bjerring |last3=Thomsen |first3=Jonas Mark |last4=Nørgaard |first4=Ole |last5=Díaz |first5=Lars Jorge |last6=Torekov |first6=Signe Sørensen |last7=Quist |first7=Jonas Salling |last8=Faerch |first8=Kristine |date=7 June 2022 |title=Effects of vegan diets on cardiometabolic health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials |journal=Obesity Reviews|volume=23 |issue=9 |pages=e13462 |doi=10.1111/obr.13462 |issn=1467-789X |pmid=35672940|pmc=9540559 |s2cid=249465763 }}</ref>

In obese people, a 2022 review found that plant-based diets improved weight control, [[Low-density lipoprotein|LDL]] and [[Cholesterol|total cholesterol]], blood pressure, [[insulin resistance]], and fasting glucose.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Remde |first1=Alan |last2=DeTurk |first2=Stephen N. |last3=Almardini |first3=A. |last4=Steiner |first4=Lauren |last5=Wojda |first5=Thomas |date=8 April 2022 |title=Plant-predominant eating patterns – how effective are they for treating obesity and related cardiometabolic health outcomes? – a systematic review |url= |journal=Nutrition Reviews |volume=80 |issue=5 |pages=1094–1104 |doi=10.1093/nutrit/nuab060 |issn=1753-4887 |pmid=34498070}}</ref>

=== Diabetes ===
Some reviews indicate that plant-based diets including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts are associated with a lower risk of diabetes.<ref name="Qian">{{cite journal |vauthors=Qian F, Liu G, Hu FB, Bhupathiraju SN, Sun Q |date=October 2019 |title=Association Between Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis |journal=JAMA Internal Medicine |volume=179 |issue=10 |pages=1335–1344 |doi=10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.2195 |pmc=6646993 |pmid=31329220}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Lee Y, Park K |date=June 2017 |title=Adherence to a Vegetarian Diet and Diabetes Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies |journal=Nutrients |volume=9 |issue=6 |pages=E603 |doi=10.3390/nu9060603 |pmc=5490582 |pmid=28613258 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Kahleova H, Pelikanova T |date=2015 |title=Vegetarian Diets in the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes |journal=Journal of the American College of Nutrition |volume=34 |issue=5 |pages=448–458 |doi=10.1080/07315724.2014.976890 |pmid=25915002 |s2cid=10451737}}</ref>

Therefore, vegetarian and vegan diets are under [[clinical research]] to identify potential effects on [[type 2 diabetes]], with preliminary results showing improvements in body weight and [[biomarker]]s of [[metabolic syndrome]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Toumpanakis A, Turnbull T, Alba-Barba I | title = Effectiveness of plant-based diets in promoting well-being in the management of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review | journal = BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care | volume = 6 | issue = 1 | pages = e000534 | date = 2018 | pmid = 30487971 | pmc = 6235058 | doi = 10.1136/bmjdrc-2018-000534 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Jardine MA, Kahleova H, Levin SM, Ali Z, Trapp CB, Barnard ND | title = Perspective: Plant-Based Eating Pattern for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention and Treatment: Efficacy, Mechanisms, and Practical Considerations | journal = Advances in Nutrition | volume = 12 | issue = 6 | pages = 2045–2055 | date = December 2021 | pmid = 34113961 | pmc = 8634508 | doi = 10.1093/advances/nmab063 }}</ref>

When the focus was [[whole food]]s, an improvement of [[diabetes]] [[biomarker]]s occurred, including reduced [[obesity]].<ref name="Qian" /><ref name="Toum">{{cite journal | vauthors = Toumpanakis A, Turnbull T, Alba-Barba I | title = Effectiveness of plant-based diets in promoting well-being in the management of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review | journal = BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care | volume = 6 | issue = 1 | pages = e000534 | year = 2018 | pmid = 30487971 | pmc = 6235058 | doi = 10.1136/bmjdrc-2018-000534 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Dinu M, Abbate R, Gensini GF, Casini A, Sofi F | title = Vegetarian, vegan diets and multiple health outcomes: A systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies | journal = Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition | volume = 57 | issue = 17 | pages = 3640–3649 | date = November 2017 | pmid = 26853923 | doi = 10.1080/10408398.2016.1138447 | hdl-access = free | s2cid = 10073754 | hdl = 2158/1079985 }}</ref> In diabetic people, plant-based diets were also associated with improved emotional and physical well-being, relief of depression, higher [[quality of life]], and better general health.<ref name="Toum" />

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine stated that diet can achieve remission in many adults with type 2 diabetes when used as a primary intervention of whole, plant-based foods with minimal consumption of meat and other animal products. There remains a need for more [[randomized controlled trial]]s "to assess sustainable plant-based dietary interventions with whole or minimally processed foods, as a primary means of treating diabetes with the goal of remission."<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Rosenfeld RM, Kelly JH, Agarwal M, Aspry K, Barnett T, Davis BC, Fields D, Gaillard T, Gulati M, Guthrie GE, Moore DJ, Panigrahi G, Rothberg A, Sannidhi DV, Weatherspoon L, Pauly K, Karlsen MC| title = Dietary Interventions to Treat Type 2 Diabetes in Adults with a Goal of Remission: An Expert Consensus Statement from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine | journal = American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine | volume = 16 | issue = 3 | pages = 342–362 | date = May 2022 | pmid = 35706589 | pmc = 9189586 | doi = 10.1177/15598276221087624 }}</ref>

=== Cancer ===

Plant-based diets are associated with a decreased risk of [[Colorectal cancer|colorectal]] and [[prostate cancer]].<ref name="godos">{{cite journal | vauthors = Godos J, Bella F, Sciacca S, Galvano F, Grosso G | title = Vegetarianism and breast, colorectal and prostate cancer risk: an overview and meta-analysis of cohort studies | journal = Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics | volume = 30 | issue = 3 | pages = 349–359 | date = June 2017 | pmid = 27709695 | doi = 10.1111/jhn.12426 | s2cid = 4331025 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal| vauthors = Gupta N, Taylor J, Borin J, Jacobsohn K, Kenfield S, Eggener S, Patel H, Price C, Davuluri M, Byrne N, Bivalacqua T |date=1 May 2022 |title=Systematic review of the impact of a plant-based diet on prostate cancer incidence and outcomes |url=https://www.auajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1097/JU.0000000000002518.04 |journal=Journal of Urology |volume=207 |issue=Supplement 5 |pages=e42 |doi=10.1097/JU.0000000000002518.04|s2cid=248030075|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Shin J, Millstine D, Ruddy B, Wallace M, Fields H|year=2019|title=Effect of Plant- and Animal-Based Foods on Prostate Cancer Risk|journal=Journal of the American Osteopathic Association|url=https://osteopathic.org/wp-content/uploads/JAOA_1911_SHIN0340.pdf|volume=119|issue=11|pages=736–746|doi=10.7556/jaoa.2019.123|pmid=31633743|s2cid=204814110 }}</ref> Vegetarian diets are associated with a lower incidence from total cancer (-8%). A vegan diet seems to reduce risk of incidence from total cancer by 15%. However, there was no improvement in cancer mortality.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Dinu |first1=Monica |last2=Abbate |first2=Rosanna |last3=Gensini |first3=Gian Franco |last4=Casini |first4=Alessandro |last5=Sofi |first5=Francesco |date=22 November 2017 |title=Vegetarian, vegan diets and multiple health outcomes: A systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26853923/ |journal=Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition |volume=57 |issue=17 |pages=3640–3649 |doi=10.1080/10408398.2016.1138447 |issn=1549-7852 |pmid=26853923|s2cid=10073754 }}</ref>

=== Microbiome ===
Preliminary studies indicate that a plant-based diet may improve the gut [[microbiome]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Tomova A, Bukovsky I, Rembert E, Yonas W, Alwarith J, Barnard ND, Kahleova H | title = The Effects of Vegetarian and Vegan Diets on Gut Microbiota | journal = Frontiers in Nutrition | volume = 6 | pages = 47 | date = 2019 | pmid = 31058160 | pmc = 6478664 | doi = 10.3389/fnut.2019.00047 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="Tindall 1402–1407">{{cite journal | vauthors = Tindall AM, Petersen KS, Kris-Etherton PM | title = Dietary Patterns Affect the Gut Microbiome-The Link to Risk of Cardiometabolic Diseases | journal = The Journal of Nutrition | volume = 148 | issue = 9 | pages = 1402–1407 | date = September 2018 | pmid = 30184227 | pmc = 7263841 | doi = 10.1093/jn/nxy141 }}</ref>

=== Cardiovascular diseases ===
A 2022 review of [[Prospective cohort study|prospective cohort studies]] showed that vegetarian diets are associated with a 15% reduced risk of [[cardiovascular diseases]] and 21% reduced risk in [[coronary artery disease]], but with no effect on the risk of [[stroke]]; for vegan diets, only a reduced risk in coronary artery disease was found.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Dybvik |first1=Jarle Sæby |last2=Svendsen |first2=Mette |last3=Aune |first3=Dagfinn |date=27 August 2022 |title=Vegetarian and vegan diets and the risk of cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease and stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies |journal=European Journal of Nutrition |volume=62 |issue=1 |pages=51–69 |doi=10.1007/s00394-022-02942-8 |issn=1436-6215 |pmid=36030329 |pmc=9899747 |s2cid=251866952}}</ref>

Other reviews found that plant-based diets, including vegan and vegetarian diets, may lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases,<ref name=sajita/><ref name=hemler/> including [[blood pressure]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gibbs |first1=Joshua |last2=Gaskin |first2=Eleanor |last3=Ji |first3=Chen |last4=Miller |first4=Michelle A. |last5=Cappuccio |first5=Francesco P. |date=January 2021 |title=The effect of plant-based dietary patterns on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled intervention trials |url= http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/138736/13/WRAP-effect-plant-based-dietary-patterns-blood-pressure-Cappuccio-2020.pdf|journal=Journal of Hypertension |volume=39 |issue=1 |pages=23–37 |doi=10.1097/HJH.0000000000002604 |issn=1473-5598 |pmid=33275398|s2cid=225483653 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yokoyama |first1=Yoko |last2=Nishimura |first2=Kunihiro |last3=Barnard |first3=Neal D. |last4=Takegami |first4=Misa |last5=Watanabe |first5=Makoto |last6=Sekikawa |first6=Akira |last7=Okamura |first7=Tomonori |last8=Miyamoto |first8=Yoshihiro |date=April 2014 |title=Vegetarian diets and blood pressure: a meta-analysis |journal=JAMA Internal Medicine |volume=174 |issue=4 |pages=577–587 |doi=10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.14547 |issn=2168-6114 |pmid=24566947}}</ref> and [[Blood lipids|blood lipid levels]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yokoyama |first1=Yoko |last2=Levin |first2=Susan M. |last3=Barnard |first3=Neal D. |date=1 September 2017 |title=Association between plant-based diets and plasma lipids: a systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=Nutrition Reviews |volume=75 |issue=9 |pages=683–698 |doi=10.1093/nutrit/nux030 |issn=1753-4887 |pmc=5914369 |pmid=28938794}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Fenglei |last2=Zheng |first2=Jusheng |last3=Yang |first3=Bo |last4=Jiang |first4=Jiajing |last5=Fu |first5=Yuanqing |last6=Li |first6=Duo |date=27 October 2015 |title=Effects of Vegetarian Diets on Blood Lipids: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials |journal=Journal of the American Heart Association |volume=4 |issue=10 |pages=e002408 |doi=10.1161/JAHA.115.002408 |issn=2047-9980 |pmc=4845138 |pmid=26508743}}</ref> [[Randomized clinical trial]]s also showed that the reduction in blood pressure (about 4 mmHg) associated with a vegan diet ''without'' caloric restrictions is comparable to reductions observed with dietary practices recommended by medical societies and use of portion-controlled diets.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lopez |first1=Persio D. |last2=Cativo |first2=Eder H. |last3=Atlas |first3=Steven A. |last4=Rosendorff |first4=Clive |date=July 2019 |title=The Effect of Vegan Diets on Blood Pressure in Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials|journal=The American Journal of Medicine |volume=132 |issue=7 |pages=875–883.e7 |doi=10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.01.044 |issn=1555-7162 |pmid=30851264|s2cid=73498903 }}</ref>

Preliminary evidence indicates that people on a long-term vegan diet show improvements in cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Benatar |first1=Jocelyne R. |last2=Stewart |first2=Ralph A. H. |date=2018 |title=Cardiometabolic risk factors in vegans; A meta-analysis of observational studies |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=13 |issue=12 |pages=e0209086 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0209086 |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=6301673 |pmid=30571724|bibcode=2018PLoSO..1309086B |doi-access=free }}</ref>

=== Bone health ===
The effect of plant-based diets on bone health is inconclusive. Preliminary research indicates that consuming a plant-based diet may be associated with lower [[bone density]], a [[risk factor]] for fractures.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ma X, Tan H, Hu M, He S, Zou L, Pan H | title = The impact of plant-based diets on female bone mineral density: Evidence based on seventeen studies | journal = Medicine | volume = 100 | issue = 46 | pages = e27480 | date = November 2021 | pmid = 34797275 | pmc = 8601298 | doi = 10.1097/MD.0000000000027480 }}</ref><ref name="Iguacel 1–18">{{cite journal | vauthors = Iguacel I, Miguel-Berges ML, Gómez-Bruton A, Moreno LA, Julián C | title = Veganism, vegetarianism, bone mineral density, and fracture risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis | journal = Nutrition Reviews | volume = 77 | issue = 1 | pages = 1–18 | date = January 2019 | pmid = 30376075 | doi = 10.1093/nutrit/nuy045 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Li T, Li Y, Wu S | title = Comparison of human bone mineral densities in subjects on plant-based and omnivorous diets: a systematic review and meta-analysis | journal = Archives of Osteoporosis | volume = 16 | issue = 1 | pages = 95 | date = June 2021 | pmid = 34145511 | doi = 10.1007/s11657-021-00955-0 | s2cid = 235475271 }}</ref>

=== Inflammation ===
Plant-based diets are under study for their potential to reduce [[inflammation]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Craddock JC, Neale EP, Peoples GE, Probst YC | title = Vegetarian-Based Dietary Patterns and their Relation with Inflammatory and Immune Biomarkers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | journal = Advances in Nutrition | volume = 10 | issue = 3 | pages = 433–451 | date = May 2019 | pmid = 30947338 | pmc = 6520040 | doi = 10.1093/advances/nmy103 }}</ref> [[C-reactive protein]] {{ndash}} a [[biomarker]] for inflammation {{ndash}} may be reduced by consuming a plant-based diet,<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Menzel J, Jabakhanji A, Biemann R, Mai K, Abraham K, Weikert C | title = Systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations of vegan and vegetarian diets with inflammatory biomarkers | journal = Scientific Reports | volume = 10 | issue = 1 | pages = 21736 | date = December 2020 | pmid = 33303765 | pmc = 7730154 | doi = 10.1038/s41598-020-78426-8 | bibcode = 2020NatSR..1021736M }}</ref> particularly in obese people.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Escalante-Araiza F, Rivera-Monroy G, Loza-López CE, Gutiérrez-Salmeán G | title = The effect of plant-based diets on meta-inflammation and associated cardiometabolic disorders: a review | journal = Nutrition Reviews | pages = 2017–2028 | date = April 2022 | volume = 80 | issue = 9 | pmid = 35475468 | doi = 10.1093/nutrit/nuac020 }}</ref>

=== Mortality ===
A 2020 review stated that dietary patterns based on consuming vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, unsaturated vegetable oils, fish, lean meat or poultry, and are low in processed meat, high-fat dairy and refined carbohydrates or sweets, are associated with a decreased risk of [[Mortality rate|all-cause mortality]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Boushey |first1=Carol |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK578477/ |title=Dietary Patterns and All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review|last2=Ard |first2=Jamy |last3=Bazzano |first3=Lydia |last4=Heymsfield |first4=Steven |last5=Mayer-Davis |first5=Elizabeth |last6=Sabaté |first6=Joan |last7=Snetselaar |first7=Linda |last8=Van Horn |first8=Linda |last9=Schneeman |first9=Barbara |date=2020 |doi=10.52570/NESR.DGAC2020.SR0108|series=USDA Nutrition Evidence Systematic Reviews |publisher=USDA Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review |pmid=35258870|s2cid=236333620 }}</ref>

=== Physical performance ===
In a meta-analysis published online in 2023, plant-based diets were shown to have a moderate positive effect on aerobic performance and had no effect on strength performance.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Damasceno |first1=Yancka Oliveira |last2=Leitão |first2=Cauã V. F. S. |last3=de Oliveira |first3=Gabriel Moraes |last4=Andrade |first4=Fernando Augusto Barcelos |last5=Pereira |first5=André B. |last6=Viza |first6=Rodrigo S. |last7=Correia |first7=Renata C. |last8=Campos |first8=Helton O. |last9=Drummond |first9=Lucas R. |last10=Leite |first10=Laura H. R. |last11=Coimbra |first11=Cândido C.|date=2023-10-23 |title=Plant-based diets benefit aerobic performance and do not compromise strength/power performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=The British Journal of Nutrition |volume=131 |issue=5 |pages=829–840 |doi=10.1017/S0007114523002258 |issn=1475-2662 |pmid=37869973|doi-access=free }}</ref>