Reducing Cardiovascular Risk in Children: Insights from a Plant-Based Diet Study

This article summarizes the research study “Plant-Based, No-Added-Fat or American Heart Association Diets: Impact on Cardiovascular Risk in Obese Children with Hypercholesterolemia and Their Parents” published in 2015 by Michael Macknin, Tammie Kong, Adam Weier, Sarah Worley, Anne S. Tang, Naim Alkhouri, and Mladen Golubic.

The study aimed to compare a no added fat, plant-based (vegan) diet to the standard American Heart Association (AHA) recommended diet in obese children aged 9-18 years old with high cholesterol. Researchers also enrolled one parent of each child to follow the same diet. They measured biomarkers and risk factors for cardiovascular disease at the start and after 4 weeks on the diets.

30 child-parent pairs were split evenly into the vegan diet (no animal products or added oils) group and AHA diet group. Both groups had 4 weekly nutrition classes. Outcomes measured included:

- Blood pressure, weight, BMI

- Lipid panels

- Inflammation markers

- Insulin/glucose

Results

- Both groups showed reductions in BMI, mid-arm circumference, and weight.

- The vegan group had greater decreases in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, inflammation, insulin, and blood pressure.

- The only favorable AHA change was a slightly greater drop in kids' waist circumference.

- Purchasing specialty vegan foods was challenging for some families.

Over 4 weeks, the plant-based no added fat vegan diet resulted in more significant improvements in cholesterol, weight, blood sugar, inflammation, and other cardiovascular risk factors compared to the AHA diet in obese, hypercholesterolemic children and their parents. The diets were similarly acceptable, but accessibility of plant-based specialty items was a barrier for some.

So for obese children age 9-18 years old with high cholesterol, a short-term no added fat vegan diet might reduce cardiovascular risks better than the standard recommended American Heart Association diet. Long term studies are still needed.

Macknin, M., Kong, T., Weier, A., Tang, A. S., Alkhouri, N., & Golubic, M. (2015). "Plant-Based, No-Added-Fat or American Heart Association Diets: Impact on Cardiovascular Risk in Obese Children with Hypercholesterolemia and Their Parents." The Journal of Pediatrics, 166(4), 953-959. Available at: https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(14)01227-X/fulltext