THE DIETARY ANIMAL-TO-PLANT SPECTRUM AND CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Łukasz Lamparski; Wiktoria Modrzejewska; Grzegorz Szmit; Zofia Wcisło; Weronika Basak; Maria Chmielewska; Patrycja Piekarska; Adrianna Purwin; Katarzyna Siwiec; Karolina Lach; Anna Kułach; Gabriela Krok

doi:10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5269

Authors

Łukasz Lamparski National Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3143-3583
Wiktoria Modrzejewska National Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9165-7404
Grzegorz Szmit Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5695-0388
Zofia Wcisło Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9058-4882
Weronika Basak Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1788-3259
Maria Chmielewska Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7702-8282
Patrycja Piekarska Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0085-6617
Adrianna Purwin Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5697-3721
Katarzyna Siwiec Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6411-9727
Karolina Lach Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0529-1623
Anna Kułach Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6476-8869
Gabriela Krok Henryk Klimontowicz Hospital in Gorlice, Gorlice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3969-9929

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5269

Keywords:

Cardiovascular Disease, Red Meat, Processed Meat, Plant-Based Diet, Dietary Patterns

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although dietary patterns play a significant role in cardiovascular health, the consumption of meat - particularly red and processed varieties - has increased substantially in recent decades, raising concerns about potential long-term health implications.

Large-scale epidemiological studies and meta-analyses consistently link high consumption of red and processed meats to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality. In contrast, dietary patterns rich in plant-based foods, including the Mediterranean diet and other plant-based regimens, are consistently associated with protective effects against cardiovascular diseases. These benefits are likely attributable to their high content of fiber, antioxidants, polyphenols, and omega-3 fatty acids, although findings from observational studies may be influenced by residual confounding.

This narrative review aims to integrate findings from epidemiological studies, biomarker research, clinical trials and mechanistic investigations to critically evaluate the cardiovascular health impacts of meat-based diets in comparison to other dietary patterns.

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