[PHNUTR-L] Consuming a Low-Fat Vegan Diet May Increase Intake of Protective Dietary Factors

[Kathrynne Holden]

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	Consuming a Low-Fat Vegan Diet May Increase Intake of Protective 
Dietary Factors
http://www.vitasearch.com/CP/weeklyupdates/

Reference: 	"A very-low-fat vegan diet increases intake of protective 
dietary factors and decreases intake of pathogenic dietary factors," 
Dewell A, Weidner G, et al, J Am Diet Assoc, 2008; 108(2): 347-56. 
(Address: Gerdi Weidner, PhD, Vice President and Director of Research, 
Preventive Medicine Research Institute, 900 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 
94965. E-mail: gerdi.weidner at pmri.org ).

Summary: 	In a randomized, controlled study involving 93 early-stage 
prostate cancer patients, adherence to a very-low-fat vegan diet (10% 
fat; no animal products or byproducts) supplemented with soy protein and 
accompanied by lifestyle changes for a period of 1 year was found to 
increase patients' intakes of protective nutrients such as fiber and 
lycopene and decrease their intakes of saturated fat and cholesterol. 
Patients were randomized into either the very-low-fat vegan diet 
supplemented with soy protein group, or the usual care group. Three day 
food records were collected from subjects at baseline and after 1 year. 
Results found significant increases in fiber (31 to 59 g/d) and lycopene 
(8,693 to 34,464 mug/d), and significant decreases in saturated fatty 
acids (20 to 5 g/d) and cholesterol (200 to 10 mg/d) among subjects 
adhering to the vegan diet, as compared to those in the control group. 
The authors conclude, "These results suggest that a very-low-fat vegan 
diet can be us eful in increasing intake of protective nutrients and 
phytochemicals and minimizing intake of dietary factors implicated in 
several chronic diseases." The results of this study add to the growing 
body of evidence suggesting that plant-based diets may play an important 
role in the prevention of various chronic diseases.
-- 
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD
"Ask the Parkinson Dietitian"  http://www.parkinson.org/
"Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease"
"Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy"
http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/