- Vegetarianism has been practiced worldwide for thousands of years for cultural, moral, and health reasons.
- Researchers now say some people may be more genetically predisposed to choose to follow a vegetarian dietary pattern.
- Experts point out that genetics are often only one factor out of many in determining health outcomes.
Some people may find it difficult to maintain a strictly vegetarian diet.
According to new research, your genes may help explain why.
A study published today in the scientific journal PLOS One notes that vegetarians make up less than 5% of the U.S. population and about half to two-thirds of self-identified vegetarians consume fish, poultry, or red meat at least occasionally.
The researchers suggest that genetic factors may help explain why some people adhere to a strictly vegetarian diet while others do not.
So how did they test their theory, what did they find, and what do experts have to say about it?
Participants in this study were selected from the UK Biobank, a database that includes about 500,000 people.
Samples — including blood — were collected from each participant, allowing the researches to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, pronounced snips).
Some SNPs affect both metabolism and brain function and could potentially make it more or less difficult for your body to function properly while on a vegetarian diet.
Participants in the study also completed at least one of two dietary questionnaires. One was a general dietary questionnaire and the second asked participants to recall their diet from the previous 24 hours.
After screening, the study retained 5,324 vegetarians and 329,455 control subjects.
The SNPs of each group were analyzed and compared to each other to determine whether certain SNPs were associated…
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