A Whole Food Plant-Based Diet May Reduce Cardiovascular Risk in People With HIV

A plant-based diet may reduce cardiovascular risks in people with HIV, according to a pilot study presented at IDWeek 2024.

“Globally, 39 million people are affected by HIV, most of whom are on antiretroviral therapy (ART), which increases cardiovascular risks. Guidelines lack specific dietary recommendations for this population, though plant-based diets may reduce these risks,” the researchers noted.

This pilot study, according to the researchers, is the first to assess the effects of a plant-based diet on cardiovascular risk in HIV-positive individuals. This randomized controlled pilot clinical trial, conducted in Mexico, consisted of  10 HIV-positive adults (aged 30-60) on stable ART, with a body mass index > 25 and ≥ 1 cardiovascular risk factor. The population of interest were divided into a plant-based diet (PBD, n=4) and a nutritional standard care (NSC, n=6) group.

Following analysis, the results showed reductions in cardiovascular risk; the NSC group experienced a -0.9% in Framingham Hard Coronary Risk (p=0.2) and the PBD group a -0.1% (p=0.1). The results showed that blood pressure decreased significantly in both groups: systolic blood pressure decreased by 15.2 mmHg (p=0.01) and diastolic blood pressure by -7.3 mmHg (p=0.02). Moreover, the PBD group also showed reductions in weight (-700g, p=0.7), body fat percentage (-0.9%, p=1.0), tricipital fold (-3mm, p=0.06), total cholesterol (-32.0 mg/dL, p=0.1) and LDL cholesterol (-39.7 mg/dL, p=0.2), though these findings were not statistically significant.

“The plant-based diet can potentially be beneficial for weight and cholesterol management. Despite a small sample size and adherence challenges, regular follow-ups and dietary self-reports enhanced compliance, underscoring the need for larger, comprehensive studies to confirm these findings,” the researchers concluded.