A British study has found that depression is 42 per cent greater among vegetarians, but also found that they have a 40 per cent lower incidence of irritable bowel syndrome.
The study by the University of Surrey found no notable differences in sodium, sugar or saturated fatty acid intake between those vegetarians who ate plant protein substitutes for meat and those who did not, but they did find higher blood pressure and higher markers of inflammation (C-reactive proteins) in the alt-meat eaters.
"The overall findings are reassuring, suggesting that plant-based meat alternatives may be a safe option when part of an overall balanced diet," Nophar Geifman, who worked on the study, said.
"However, the potential link between these types of food, inflammation and depression warrants further investigation."
The study analyzed data from the United Kingdom’s Biobank, a biomedical database containing genetic, lifestyle and health information, though the researchers note that the data is limited to predominantly white citizens. The data also covers only a single point in time, not accounting for potential changes over time.
