Balanced Diet vs. Vegetarianism Which Supports Brain Health Better

Summary: A study exploring UK biobank found that a balanced diet is associated with better mental health and brain function compared to a vegetarian diet. Although a vegetarian diet also has some benefits, like sound brain health, a balanced diet is a better choice. A balanced diet is also better than other dietary choices like a low-carb diet or high-protein diet. Further, the study found that dietary practices can result in significant brain changes that are visible through brain scans.

 Metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes are widespread. If not managed, these issues cause heart disease, kidney disorder, liver dysfunction, mental health issues, and even cancers. 

Dietary measures are essential for managing metabolic disorders. After all, faulty dietary choices are the root cause of the issue. However, making dietary changes is not easy, as there is a learning curve involved.

One of the simpler ways of making dietary changes is switching to a specific diet form. Thus, for example, one of the ways of improving health is switching to a vegan or vegetarian diet. Others may switch to low-carb or starch diets like the keto diet. Some may even prefer a high-protein diet. 

Most of the above diet forms are proven to help counter metabolic syndrome. Thus, a low-starch diet is associated with better brain health and promotes weight loss. The vegetarian diet is generally associated with better cardiovascular outcomes, and so on.

Nonetheless, it is essential to understand that every diet form has its downsides. Thus, a low-starch diet like a keto diet may be deficient in water-soluble micronutrients and dietary fiber. A protein diet may be bad for specific population groups. A vegetarian diet is generally low in certain vitamins like B12 and proteins.

Balanced Diet Better Than Vegetarian Diet

The study used a large UK Biobank cohort, with health and dietary pattern data of nearly 182,000 individuals. The researchers identified four distinct dietary subtypes: starch-free or reduced-starch (type 1), vegetarian (type 2), high protein and low fiber (type 3), and balanced dietary patterns (type 4).

Interestingly, the study found that specific food choices were linked to specific brain MRI traits, cognition, and mental health. Remarkably, individuals with specific food preferences exhibited noticeable patterns of brain MRI traits, confirming the impact of dietary choices on brain structure and, consequently, cognitive function and mental health outcomes.

Significant differences in mental health and cognitive function were observed across the identified subtypes. For instance, individuals adhering to a vegetarian dietary pattern had higher mental health scores but lower well-being scores compared to other subtypes. The study also found that dietary choices are associated with specific brain changes. Subtype differences in gray matter volume and white matter tract integrity provided insights into the potential mechanisms through which dietary choices affect brain structure and function.

Blood and metabolic biomarkers also differed among individuals with different dietary choices. Notably, individuals adhering to a balanced dietary pattern exhibited more favorable biomarker profiles compared to those with other dietary patterns, including vegetarians.

Genomic analyses revealed genetic associations underlying these dietary patterns. It showed the involvement of specific genes in modulating brain function and mental health. The convergence of genetic findings with brain imaging and functional analyses provides strong evidence regarding the interplay between dietary patterns, genetics, and brain health.

While the study offers valuable insights, it is not without limitations. For instance, the reliance on food-liking data rather than actual consumption may introduce biases. Additionally, the study's generalizability may be limited due to the predominantly healthy nature of the UK Biobank cohort.

The Bottom Line

The study demonstrated that dietary choices have a significant impact on mental health and brain function. In fact, these changes are so massive that they can be visualized using modern brain scans. These changes are also visible when various blood tests are performed. Overall, the study found that a balanced diet is essential to sound mental health, and it is better than some of the popular diet forms, including a vegetarian diet.

References

Zhang, R., Zhang, B., Shen, C., Sahakian, B. J., Li, Z., Zhang, W., Zhao, Y., Li, Y., Feng, J., & Cheng, W. (2024). Associations of dietary patterns with brain health from behavioral, neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic analyses. Nature Mental Health, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-024-00226-0