Men following a vegetarian diet are more likely to develop varicose veins than those who do not follow this diet.
- Women are more likely to have varicose veins than men. However, men who follow a vegetarian diet are more at risk.
- For the researchers, this could be linked to lower levels of vitamin B12 or the homocysteine level of vegetarians.
- Scientists believe that health professionals should consider a vegetarian diet as a predisposing factor for varicose veins, especially in men.
Varicose veins, a common vascular disease in developed countries, are characterized by the permanent dilation and deformation of a vein in the superficial venous network of the lower limbs. This disorder affects women more often (36% against 14% in men). However, the vegetarian diet seems to increase the risk of men having it, according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition early June.
Vegetarianism: beware of varicose veins, especially in men
For this work, the researchers examined the records of 9,905 adults who participated in the Taiwan Biobank study between 2008 and 2020. 35% of women and 12% of men had varicose veins. Questionnaires made it possible to know their diet. Participants following mainly an omnivorous diet: only 8% of men and 12% of women were vegetarians.
Results of the analyses: although women continued to have a higher risk of developing varicose veins than men regardless of their diet, vegetarian men showed increased risks of varicose veins compared to non-vegetarians.
The team suggests that the increased risk observed in vegetarians could be linked to lower levels of vitamin B12 or their level of the amino acid homocysteine. However, further work is needed to confirm this.
Vegetarian diet: a risk factor for varicose veins to take into account
The scientists also believe that the study shows that sex-related factors may play a greater role in the development of varicose veins than diet-related factors. “However, healthcare professionals should consider both variables as predisposing factors for varicose veins when managing chronic venous disease”they warn in their article.
Methods to prevent varicose veins can include adopting a proper diet, exercising regularly, losing weight, and using compression stockings, among others.
