Poor Cardiovascular Risk Profile Following a Vegan Diet: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Vegetarianism and veganism are becoming increasingly popular in North America due to reasons ranging from environmental motives to animal rights. While the vegetarian lifestyle allows some egg and dairy items, vegans completely abstain from all animal products in favour of plant-based diets. Of additional interest to vegans, are the health benefits associated with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, weight loss and some particular forms of cancer. Case Presentation: Numerous studies have demonstrated drastic improvements in lipid markers such as low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol that follows vegan dieting when compared to vegetarians or omnivores. This case report discusses a female patient who revealed abnormal lipid markers following blood analysis, despite observing a strict vegan diet for two years. Conclusion: It is questioned whether a vegan diet and its associated macronutrients are indeed beneficial for cholesterol levels or if adhering to this diet require more thorough investigation for an overall reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.