Blood pressure
The lowest blood pressure of the diet groups
5.8%Hypertension in vegan men, against 15.0% in male meat eaters
Among 11,004 British adults in EPIC-Oxford, self-reported hypertension ran from 15.0% in male meat eaters down to 5.8% in male vegans, and from 12.1% to 7.7% in women[1], though much of that gap tracked differences in body mass index[1]. In controlled trials, eating vegetarian lowered systolic pressure by 4.8 mmHg[2]; across observational studies the gap was 6.9[2]. Meat pushes the other way: across 351,819 people, the highest red-meat intakes came with 22% more hypertension[4].
What the evidence says
The main points first. Every claim is tied to a source below.
Vegans had the least hypertension of the four diet groups
Among 11,004 British adults in EPIC-Oxford, self-reported high blood pressure ranged from 15.0% in male meat eaters down to 5.8% in male vegans, and from 12.1% to 7.7% in women[1]. Vegans had the lowest systolic and diastolic readings of the four groups[1]. Much of the gap tracked differences in body mass index, so the diet was not acting alone[1].
Read full article →In trials, vegetarian diets lowered systolic pressure by 4.8 mmHg
Across 39 studies, the seven controlled trials found that eating vegetarian lowered systolic pressure by 4.8 mmHg and diastolic by 2.2 compared with omnivorous diets[1], and the 32 observational studies showed larger gaps of 6.9 and 4.7[1]. Meat pushes the other way[2]. Across 10 cohorts and 351,819 people, the highest red-meat intakes came with 22% more hypertension and the highest poultry intakes with 15% more[2].
Read full article →Articles
Vegan diets come with the lowest blood pressure
In EPIC-Oxford, vegans had the least hypertension of four diet groups, and in controlled trials vegetarian diets lowered systolic pressure by 4.8 mmHg. The highest red-meat and poultry intakes came with more hypertension.
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Sources
Papers and datasets. Each card keeps its caveats, including small samples and single-animal cases.
[1]Public Health Nutrition, 2002 · Observational
Blood pressure across four diet groups
Among 11,004 British adults in EPIC-Oxford, self-reported hypertension ran from 15.0% in male meat eaters down to 5.8% in male vegans, and from 12.1% to 7.7% in women. Vegans had the lowest systolic and diastolic readings of the four groups, though much of the gap tracked differences in body mass index.
[2]JAMA Internal Medicine, 2014 · Meta-analysis
Vegetarian diets and blood pressure — 39 studies
In the seven controlled trials, eating vegetarian lowered systolic pressure by 4.8 mmHg and diastolic by 2.2 mmHg against omnivorous diets. Across 32 observational studies the gaps were larger, 6.9 and 4.7 mmHg.
[3]Journal of Geriatric Cardiology, 2017 · Review
A plant-based diet and hypertension
Reviewing the evidence, the author concludes that a mostly or entirely plant-based diet is prudent for both preventing and treating high blood pressure. Of meat eaters, fish eaters, vegetarians and vegans, vegans carried the least hypertension.
[4]Journal of Human Hypertension, 2018 · Meta-analysis
Meat, poultry, and the risk of high blood pressure
Across 10 prospective cohorts and 351,819 people, the highest red-meat intake, processed or unprocessed, came with 22% more hypertension, and the highest poultry intake with 15% more. Eggs ran the other way in the three cohorts that measured them.