AUTHOR=Chiu Tina H. T. , Kao Yun-Chun , Wang Ling-Yi , Chang Huai-Ren , Lin Chin-Lon 

TITLE=A Dietitian-Led Vegan Program May Improve GlycA, and Other Novel and Traditional Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Patients With Dyslipidemia: A Pilot Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.807810

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2022.807810

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=Background: Systematic inflammation and lipid profiles are two major therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases. The effect of a nutritionally balanced vegan diet on systematic inflammation and lipoprotein subclass awaits further examination. 
Objective: To investigate the change in novel and traditional cardiometabolic risk factors before and after a dietitian-led vegan program, and to test the bioavailability of vitamin B12 in Taiwanese purple laver as part of a vegan diet.  
Design: A one-arm pilot intervention study.
Participants/setting: Nine patients with dyslipidemia participated in this 12-week vegan program. 
Main outcome measures: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) detected GlycA signal (systematic inflammation) and lipoprotein subclass (atherogenicity), trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and other cardiometabolic risk factors.
Statistical analyses performed: Wilcoxon signed-rank test. 
Results: In this 12-week vegan intervention emphasizing whole foods, systematic inflammation improved as indicated by a reduction in GlycA (median: -23μmol/L, p=0.01). LDL-cholesterol (median -24mg/dL, p=0.04) and LDL-particles (median -75nmol/L, p=0.02) both decreased significantly. VLDL and chylomicron particles showed a decreasing trend (-23.6 nmol/L, p=0.05). Without caloric restriction, BMI (-0.7kg/m2, p=0.03), waist circumferences (-2.0cm, p<0.001), HbA1c (-0.2%, p=0.02) and HOMA-IR (-0.7, p=0.04) have all improved. Change in TMAO and vitamin B12 status as measured by holo-transcobalamin appeared to depend on baseline diets, TMAO, and vitamin B12 status. 
Conclusions: A dietitian-led vegan program may improve systematic inflammation and other novel and traditional cardiometabolic risk factors in high risk individuals.