Abstract

Nabam Piya, Muhammad Hussain, Ilias Uddin, Raj Sujit Jahan, Tapobon Bordoloi, Jafar Sharif, Ananga Mohan Das, Dhiman Patowary and Anjanjyoti Deka*

ABSTRACT

Plant-based diets encompass both vegetarianism and veganism, which have beenincreasingly accepted by people worldwide due to their potential health benefits andsustainability. Such diets emphasize whole foods primarily sourced from plants andhave linked them to prevention and protection against chronic diseases such asdiabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders, among others, also conferringimproved metabolic health. However, plant-based diets also present severalnutritional challenges like some micronutrient deficiencies, specifically vitaminB12, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids. This review covers the development ofplant-based diets, their health consequences, nutritional deficiencies, and their rolein playing a part in pressing global health issues such as obesity and metabolicsyndrome. In particular, it places special attention on cardioprotective mechanismsby dietary patterns, effects on gut microbiota, and perspective from theenvironmental sustainability viewpoint. Research directions for the future discussfine-tuning plant-based diets with regard to nutritional risks and optimization in theheterogenous population.