A large study of 204,938 people has found that the plant-based EAT-Lancet diet is reflected in the molecular profile of blood and is associated with a lower risk of several chronic diseases, infohub.kz reports.
The research was published in the journal Communications Medicine. It draws on data from the UK Biobank: scientists analyzed information on participants aged 40 to 69. Follow-up lasted an average of 14 years, during which researchers examined 45 health indicators.
High scores for adherence to the planetary EAT-Lancet diet showed the clearest link to a reduced risk of developing lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Analysis of blood samples identified a diet-related profile of 163 proteins and 37 metabolites. The protein profile showed the strongest correlation with a lower risk of lung cancer, while the metabolite profile was linked to a reduced risk of diabetes. Both molecular profiles point to the involvement of biological processes related to immune regulation, inflammation and lipid metabolism.
At the same time, the metabolic profile was associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease and death from nervous system disorders. The authors stress that this is not evidence that the diet is harmful: blood markers could have been affected by undiagnosed illnesses or medication use.
Modeling showed that 45-year-old participants with the highest diet scores had a life expectancy roughly three months longer.
The researchers note that the observational nature of the work means it cannot definitively establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship.