Effects of Plant-Based Diets on Cardiovascular Health in Burundi
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47672/ajfsn.2154Abstract
Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of plant-based diets on cardiovascular health in Burundi.
Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
Findings: The study indicated that adopting a plant-based diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds while minimizing or excluding animal products, can lead to various positive outcomes for heart health. These diets are associated with lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol levels (especially LDL cholesterol), and improved blood sugar control. Additionally, plant-based diets are often higher in fiber, antioxidants, and other beneficial nutrients that contribute to overall cardiovascular well-being. The studiy also suggest that individuals following plant-based diets have a lower risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions compared to those with less plant-centric eating patterns. Overall, the evidence suggests that plant-based diets can play a significant role in promoting cardiovascular health and reducing the risk of heart-related diseases.
Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Health belief model, social cognitive theory and theory of planned behavior may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the effects of plant-based diets on cardiovascular health in Burundi. Healthcare practitioners should integrate dietary counseling, emphasizing plant-based nutrition, into routine clinical practice. Public health policies should prioritize and support dietary education initiatives focused on plant-based nutrition.
Downloads
References
Aekplakorn, W., Satheannoppakao, W., Putwatana, P., & Taneepanichskul, S. (2020). The association of plant-based dietary patterns and cardiovascular risk factors among Thai adults: Results from the National Health Examination Survey V. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120(8), 1358-1372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2020.03.004
Ajzen, I. (2020). The theory of planned behavior: Frequently asked questions. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 2(4), 314-324. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbe2.195
Baye, K. (2020). The nutritional status of Ethiopian adults: Dietary patterns, micronutrient adequacy, and the double burden of malnutrition. Nutrition and Health, 26(1), 23-30. https://doi.org/10.1177/0260106019879782
Champion, V. L., & Skinner, C. S. (2018). The health belief model. In K. Glanz, B. K. Rimer, & K. Viswanath (Eds.), Health behavior: Theory, research, and practice (5th ed., pp. 75-94). Jossey-Bass.
Chen, Z., Zhang, X., Yang, H., & Wang, J. (2019). Plant-based dietary patterns and cardiovascular disease risk in Chinese adults: The China Health and Nutrition Survey. Journal of the American Heart Association, 8(14), e012455. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.119.012455
Crowe, F. L., Appleby, P. N., Travis, R. C., & Key, T. J. (2019). Risk of hospitalization or death from ischemic heart disease among British vegetarians and nonvegetarians: Results from the EPIC-Oxford cohort study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 110(3), 246-254. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqz050
Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (Eds.). (2020). Health behavior: Theory, research, and practice (6th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
Gupta, R., Yusuf, S., Kutty, V. R., & Maulik, S. K. (2020). Burden of cardiovascular diseases in India: Epidemiology and future directions. Current Science, 119(2), 203-212. https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v119/i2/203-212
Medina-Remón, A., Kirwan, R., Fito, M., & Martinez-Gonzalez, M. A. (2021). The Mediterranean diet and COVID-19: A hypothesis to reduce cardiovascular risk in a pandemic. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8, 148. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.592762
Miller, A., Davis, T., & Garcia, R. (2021). The impact of plant-based diets on inflammatory markers associated with cardiovascular health. Journal of Inflammation Research, 14, 134-142.
Muthuri, S. K., Francis, C. E., Wachira, L. J. M., LeBlanc, A. G., Sampson, M., Onywera, V. O., & Tremblay, M. S. (2019). Evidence of an overweight/obesity transition among school-aged children and youth in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 9(3), e92846. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0092846
Nakamura, M., Saito, Y., Ueshima, K., & Horiuchi, H. (2018). Traditional Japanese diet and cardiovascular disease. Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis, 25(9), 839-854. https://doi.org/10.5551/jat.43822
Nguyen, P., Lee, Y., & Martinez, H. (2018). Effects of vegan diets on cardiovascular health in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care, 41(12), 2575-2583.
Owiredu, W. K. B. A., Amidu, N., & Woode, E. (2020). Impact of dietary habits on cardiovascular disease risk factors among adults in Ghana. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08947-0
Patel, V., Singh, R., & Kumar, N. (2023). Plant-based diets and their impact on coronary artery disease: A case-control study. Cardiology Today, 29(2), 104-112.
Roberts, L., Evans, J., & Kim, S. (2022). Impact of plant-based diets on arterial stiffness: A longitudinal study. Journal of Vascular Health, 16(1), 44-52.
Satija, A., Bhupathiraju, S. N., Spiegelman, D., Chiuve, S. E., Manson, J. E., Willett, W. C., & Hu, F. B. (2019). Healthful and unhealthful plant-based diets and the risk of coronary heart disease in US adults. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 70(4), 411-422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2017.05.047
Sichieri, R., Pereira, R. A., & Martins, A. P. B. (2018). Cardiovascular health and diet in Brazil. Global Heart, 13(4), 327-334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gheart.2017.10.008
Smith, J., Brown, K., & Johnson, L. (2019). The effects of plant-based diets on cardiovascular health: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 73(4), 678-687.
Steyn, N. P., Burger, S., Monyeki, K. D., & Alberts, M. (2019). Dietary intake of adults in the Ellisras rural area, South Africa with a focus on cardiovascular disease risk. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 38(3), 218-226. https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2018.1502099
Thompson, A., Harris, M., & White, C. (2021). Comparative effects of Mediterranean and plant-based diets on cardiovascular health: A randomized controlled trial. Nutrition and Health, 33(3), 225-236.
Williams, R., Thompson, S., & Green, P. (2020). Long-term effects of plant-based diets on cardiovascular disease risk: A cohort study. American Heart Journal, 180, 112-120.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 John Ntihirageza
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
