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.

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