A Month Without Meat and Dairy — What Changed in the Body
A small study published in the journal MedComm found that four weeks of a vegan diet cause epigenetic changes related to inflammation, aging, and disease risk. The scientists emphasize that the work does not prove disease prevention but demonstrates the body's rapid response to dietary changes. The researchers urge caution and the need for larger studies.
A study published in the journal MedComm showed that four weeks of vegan nutrition cause epigenetic changes in the body. The experiment involved 48 adults who were randomly divided into two groups: one followed a vegan diet without meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products, the other a diet high in animal products. Scientists monitored caloric intake to rule out the influence of weight changes. Before and after the experiment, blood samples were taken from participants and more than 800,000 genome regions were analyzed for DNA methylation. After four weeks, the vegan group showed changes associated with reduced activity of cells that promote inflammation and increased activity of cells that regulate the immune system. Changes were also observed in processes related to cholesterol, insulin response, and DNA repair. The researchers noted a decrease in the activity of genes associated with cancer development mechanisms, but emphasized that this does not mean cancer prevention. Some epigenetic clocks showed a slight slowdown in aging indicators. However, scientists warn that it is unknown whether the changes persist after returning to a previous diet and whether they lead to a real reduction in disease incidence. The study does not prove that a vegan diet prevents diseases or increases life expectancy. It only shows that dietary changes can quickly affect molecular mechanisms. The authors call for larger and longer studies.