Dietary Patterns, Oxidative Stress, and Early Inflammation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Comparing Mediterranean, Vegan, and Vegetarian Diets

By:
Sara Ilari, Stefania Proietti, Francesca Milani, Laura Vitiello, Carolina Muscoli, Patrizia Russo, Stefano Bonassi
Date:
2025
Resource type:
Peer review
Link:

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 65 studies evaluated how Mediterranean, vegan, and vegetarian diets influence biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in healthy individuals. While all three diets showed potential benefits, the vegetarian diet was significantly associated with lower C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, indicating reduced inflammation. The Mediterranean and vegan diets showed weaker or borderline effects on other markers such as MDA, 8OHdG, IL-6, and TNF-α. Despite some protective effects, the authors note that antioxidant benefits may be limited and influenced by factors such as individual metabolism or nutrient bioavailability.

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