Vegan Diet Reduces Weight and Inflammatory Compounds More Than Mediterranean Diet

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are harmful compounds that form when proteins or fats combine with sugar in the body, and they often lead to chronic inflammation. New data from a previous trial conducted by the Physicians Committee found that when overweight participants followed a vegan diet, they lost an average of 13 pounds and had a 73% reduction in AGEs, compared to no reductions when they ate the Mediterranean diet. When participants ate the vegan diet, they also saw improvements in their total and LDL cholesterol levels and insulin sensitivity. The largest dietary sources of AGEs were meat, added fats, and dairy products.