Impact of a Vegetarian Diet upon Premature Aging, Metabolic Syndrome, and Health

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an exclusively vegetarian diet, combined with physical activity and lifestyle interventions, on metabolic parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome, with a focus on preventing premature aging and improving overall health status. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 participants (82 females, 68 males; aged 36–80 years, with a mean age of 61.45 years) diagnosed with metabolic syndrome were enrolled. Participants followed an exclusively vegetarian diet (≈2100 kcal/day; 65% carbohydrates, 23% lipids, 15% proteins, 52.4 g dietary fiber, and 0 mg cholesterol) along with a structured lifestyle program that included physical activity (2.5 h/day, intensity 2–6 METs), psychological counseling, smoking cessation support, weight and blood pressure management, hydrotherapy, massage, phytotherapy, and stress-reduction sessions. Baseline and post-intervention assessments were performed to measure total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, glycemia, BMI, and blood pressure. Results: After 10 days of intervention, significant improvements were observed across all measured parameters: total cholesterol decreased by 41.21 mg/dL (−19.54%), triglycerides decreased by 72.86 mg/dL (−34.9%), LDL cholesterol decreased by 26.24 mg/dL (−19.71%), fasting glycemia decreased by 30.4 mg/dL (−21.61%), BMI decreased by 3%, systolic blood pressure decreased by 10.82 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 6.44 mmHg. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that a structured lifestyle intervention, centered on a vegetarian diet and physical activity, has a significant beneficial effect on metabolic health. This approach improves cardiovascular risk factors, glycemic control, and body composition, and may play a preventive role against premature aging.