Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Jan;39(1):23-37.
doi: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000002604.

The effect of plant-based dietary patterns on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled intervention trials

Joshua Gibbs  1 , Eleanor Gaskin  1 , Chen Ji  1 , Michelle A Miller  1 , Francesco P Cappuccio  1   2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The effect of plant-based dietary patterns on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled intervention trials

Joshua Gibbs et al. J Hypertens. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Objectives: The consumption of strict vegetarian diets with no animal products is associated with low blood pressure (BP). It is not clear whether less strict plant-based diets (PBDs) containing some animal products exert a similar effect. The main objective of this meta-analysis was to assess whether PBDs reduce BP in controlled clinical trials.

Methods: We searched Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline, Embase, and Web of Science to identify controlled clinical trials investigating the effect of PBDs on BP. Standardized mean differences in BP and 95% confidence intervals were pooled using a random effects model. Risk of bias, sensitivity, heterogeneity, and publication bias were assessed.

Results: Of the 790 studies identified, 41 clinical trials met the inclusion criteria (8416 participants of mean age 49.2 years). In the pooled analysis, PBDs were associated with lower SBP [Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension -5.53 mmHg (95% confidence intervals -7.95,-3.12), Mediterranean -0.95 mmHg (-1.70,-0.20), Vegan -1.30 mmHg (-3.90,1.29), Lacto-ovo vegetarian -5.47 mmHg (-7.60,-3.34), Nordic -4.47 mmHg (-7.14,-1.81), high-fiber -0.65 mmHg (-1.83,0.53), high-fruit and vegetable -0.57 mmHg (-7.45,6.32)]. Similar effects were seen on DBP. There was no evidence of publication bias and some heterogeneity was detected. The certainty of the results is high for the lacto-ovo vegetarian and Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension diets, moderate for the Nordic and Mediterranean diets, low for the vegan diet, and very low for the high-fruit and vegetable and high-fiber diets.

Conclusion: PBDs with limited animal products lower both SBP and DBP, across sex and BMI.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Bromfield S, Muntner P. High blood pressure: the leading global burden of disease risk factor and the need for worldwide prevention programs. Curr Hypertens Rep 2013; 15:134–136.
    1. Lim SS, Vos T, Flaxman AD, Danaei G, Shibuya K, Adair-Rohani H, et al. A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet 2012; 380:2224–2260.
    1. Mackay J, Mensah GA. The atlas of heart disease and stroke. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2004.
    1. World Health Organization. Global health risks: mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks . Report no.: 9244563878. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009.
    1. Du H, Li L, Bennett D, Guo Y, Key TJ, Bian Z, et al. Fresh fruit consumption and major cardiovascular disease in China. N Engl J Med 2016; 374:1332–1343.