Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2025
Document Type
Problem/Project Report
Degree Type
MS
College
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
Department
Not Listed
Committee Chair
Annette Freshour
Committee Co-Chair
Janet Tou
Committee Member
Janet Tou
Committee Member
Kelli George
Abstract
Hypercholesterolemia, or atherosclerotic cholesterol, is characterized as elevated concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (non-HDL-C). According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), vegan diets have proven to be the most effective diets for improvement of heart disease risk factors. On the other hand, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends the Mediterranean-style diet as a diet pattern for the prevention of heart disease, stroke, and reduction of risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension. Therefore, the current literature review uses a systematic approach to examine the effects of a vegan diet compared to a MedDiet on plasma/serum concentrations of TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C in hypercholesterolemic adults. Sixteen relevant studies were included in this review. Out of the studies that examined the effects of a vegan diet on plasma/serum lipid profile, 5 out of 6 studies, or 83% of studies, demonstrated a significant reduction in plasma/serum total cholesterol; 4 out of 6 studies, or 67% of studies, demonstrated a significant reduction in plasma/serum LDL-C; 3 out of 6 studies, or 50% of studies, demonstrated a significant reduction in plasma/serum HDL-C; and 3 out of 6 studies, or 50% of studies, demonstrated a significant reduction in all three. Out of the studies that examined the effects of a MedDiet on plasma/serum lipid profile, 4 out of 9 studies, or 44% of studies, demonstrated a significant reduction in plasma/serum total cholesterol; 5 out of 9 studies, or 56% of studies, demonstrated a significant reduction in plasma/serum LDL-C; 1 out of 9 studies, or 11% of studies, demonstrated a significant reduction in plasma/serum HDL-C; and 1 out of 9 studies, or 11% of studies, demonstrated a significant reduction in all three. In the study that examined the relative effects of a vegan diet and a MedDiet on plasma lipid profile, a MedDiet led to non-significant decreases in total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C, while a vegan diet led to significant decreases in total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C.
Recommended Citation
Patel, Karina Bharat, "A Vegan Diet Compared to a Mediterranean Diet on Plasma/Serum Cholesterol Concentrations in Hypercholesterolemic Adults" (2025). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 12886.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/12886