A study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25) suggests that individuals with cardiometabolic disorders—such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease—may significantly extend their life expectancy by following a healthy plant-based diet. This research, focusing on people with these disorders, represents the first of its kind, highlighting the importance of diet in preventing premature death within this high-risk group.
While past studies have examined the benefits of plant-based diets for the general population, this study specifically targeted those with cardiometabolic disorders, which have become increasingly prevalent and are linked to higher mortality rates. The findings show that a higher adherence to a healthy plant-based diet is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Zhangling Chen from the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, emphasized the significance of diet composition, noting that increased intake of healthy plant-based foods—such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and beverages like tea and coffee—along with reduced consumption of unhealthy plant-based foods and animal products, resulted in a marked improvement in health outcomes.
Researchers pooled data from nearly 78,000 individuals with cardiometabolic disorders across the United Kingdom, United States, and China, examining their dietary habits over several years. The dataset included information from the UK Biobank, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study (CLHLS).
By evaluating participants’ dietary patterns based on 24-hour dietary recall and questionnaires, the researchers scored individuals according to their adherence to healthful and unhealthful plant-based diets. Participants who adhered to healthier plant-based diets had a 17% to 24% lower risk of death from any cause, cardiovascular disease, or cancer. Conversely, those who followed less healthy diets had a 28% to 36% higher risk of death from the same causes.
The study took into account various factors, including demographics, lifestyle habits, and physical activity, finding consistent results across different subgroups—by age, race, sex, and health status—across the three countries. Interestingly, while the UK and US participants were relatively younger, with an average age of 57 and 59 years, respectively, the Chinese participants were significantly older, averaging 84 years of age.
In a related study using only NHANES data, the researchers also found that greater adherence to a healthy beverage pattern—rich in tea, coffee, and low-fat milk—was linked to a reduced risk of early death, suggesting that beverage choices are also pivotal in promoting health.
Dr. Chen highlighted the importance of these findings in helping individuals with cardiometabolic disorders make informed and health-conscious lifestyle choices. However, the study’s reliance on self-reported dietary data and its inability to track dietary changes over time were noted as limitations. The researchers called for further prospective studies across diverse populations to strengthen the evidence supporting the benefits of healthy dietary patterns.
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