Plant-based diets, which emphasize healthy plant foods like whole grains, legumes, vegetables, nuts, and fruits, and de-emphasize or eliminate animal foods like meat, dairy, and eggs, are gaining popularity among people with all sorts of dietary preferences. In this study, researchers analyzed the results of 9 observational studies totaling 307,099 participants to see how plant-based diets (including both vegan and vegetarian diets) relate to type 2 diabetes risk. Those most closely following plant-based diets had a 23% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes across the study periods. When healthy plant-based foods, such as whole grains and vegetables, were included in the definition of plant-based, the relationship was even stronger, at a 30% lower risk.
JAMA Internal Medicine. 2019 Jul 22. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.2195. [Epub ahead of print] (Qian F et al.)