Plant-Based Diets and Dyslipidemia in Tharparkar: A Cross-Sectional Study on Lipid Imbalances
Keywords:
Vegetarian Diet, Dyslipidemia, Lipid Imbalances, Cardiovascular Risk, nutrient imbalanceAbstract
Objective: To assess lipid profiles in Tharparkar’s vegetarian population and examine dietary habits and their correlation with lipid imbalances.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Bilawal Medical College, Jamshoro, in collaboration of other institutes in Sindh, Pakistan, from Dec 2024 to May 2025, after obtaining ethical approval. The vegetarian population was included, and the non-vegetarian population was excluded. A total of 500 participants were selected via stratified random sampling. Lipid profiling was conducted after 12 hours of fasting. Dietary habits and socioeconomic factors were assessed using structured questionnaires. Data analysis was performed with SPSS.
Results: 500 participants revealed that 60% had lipid imbalances. Specifically, 45% had high Cholesterol, 40% had high LDL-C, 60% had low HDL-C, and 50% had high triglycerides. High carbohydrate intake from refined grains, low omega-3 fatty acid intake, and consumption of fried foods were strongly linked to unfavourable lipid profiles.
Conclusion: The high dyslipidemia rates in Tharparkar's vegetarian population are occurring due to nutrient imbalances, socioeconomic factors and unhealthy food consumption. Public health counselling promoting balanced vegetarian diets and addressing lifestyle factors could help improve lipid profiles and reduce cardiovascular risk.
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