Hormone Levels in Different Diets
Author Information
Author(s): Thomas H V, Davey G K, Key T J
Primary Institution: Imperial Cancer Research Fund Cancer Epidemiology Unit
Hypothesis
Do vegetarians have lower plasma oestradiol and higher sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) than meat-eaters?
Conclusion
The study found no significant differences in hormone levels between meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans after adjusting for body mass index.
Supporting Evidence
- Vegetarians and vegans had lower mean body mass indices (BMI) and lower plasma cholesterol concentrations than meat-eaters.
- Before adjusting for BMI, vegetarians and vegans showed small differences in SHBG and oestradiol levels.
- These small differences were eliminated after adjusting for BMI.
Takeaway
This study looked at women who eat different diets and found that being a vegetarian or vegan doesn't really change certain hormone levels compared to meat-eaters.
Methodology
The study assayed plasma samples from premenopausal and post-menopausal women across different dietary groups.
Limitations
The study did not find significant differences in hormone levels after adjusting for BMI, which may limit the conclusions about diet effects.
Participant Demographics
640 premenopausal women and 457 post-menopausal women from various dietary backgrounds.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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