EAT-Lancet Diet Research Articles

Adherence to the EAT-Lancet sustainable diet and ultra-processed food consumption: findings from a nationwide population-based study in Brazil.

To evaluate the association between ultra-processed food consumption and adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet in a representative sample of the Brazilian population. The study used data from the Brazilian National Dietary Survey 2017-2018 and employed linear regression models to evaluate the association between ultra-processed food consumption and adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet, as measured by the Nova food system and Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI), respectively. Nationally representative sample of the Brazilian population. The study included 46 164 Brazilians ≥ 10 years old. The average PHDI total score was 45·9 points (95 % CI 45·6, 46·1). The ultra-processed food consumption was, with dose-response, inversely associated with the adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet. The PHDI total score was 5·38 points lower (95 % CI -6·01, -4·75) in individuals in the highest quintile of consumption of ultra-processed foods, as compared to those in the first quintile. The PHDI score was also inversely associated with the share of processed culinary ingredients and processed foods and positively associated with the share of unprocessed or minimally processed foods. Our study showed an inverse relationship between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and the adherence to a healthy and sustainable diet.

Emerging EAT-Lancet planetary health diet is associated with major cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality: A global systematic review and meta-analysis

Background&AimsIn 2019, the EAT-Lancet Commission promoted a plant-based diet, emphasizing its potential to enhance human health and environmental sustainability. Nevertheless, a thorough evaluation of health benefits associated with EAT-Lancet diet requires robust statistical backing. This synthesis seeks to compile evidence related to the effects of the EAT-Lancet diet on major cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted utilizing data from MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and medRxiv, covering the period from January 2019 to October 8, 2024. We included all cohort and case-control studies that investigated the association between the emerging EAT-Lancet diet and outcomes such as diabetes, CVD, all-cause mortality, and cancer. Summary effect size estimates are presented as hazard ratios (HRs) and were analyzed using random-effects models. Study heterogeneity was assessed with the Q statistic and I2 statistic. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify potential sources of variability, while publication bias was evaluated using Begg’s and Egger’s tests. Additionally, sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the results. ResultsWe identified 28 publications that included a total of over 2.21 million participants. Adhering to the EAT-Lancet dietary patterns was negatively associated with diabetes, CVD (mortality), all-cause mortality, and cancer (mortality), with HRs of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.65-0.92), 0.84 (95% CI: 0.81-0.87), 0.83 (95% CI: 0.78-0.89), and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.80-0.92), respectively. Significant heterogeneity was observed for diabetes (I2=94.0%), all-cause mortality (I2=85.5%), and cancer incidence (I2=79.3%). Importantly, no evidence of publication bias was found for any of the clinical outcomes analyzed. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the results across various dietary scoring systems for CVD mortality, all-cause mortality, and cancer. ConclusionFollowing the EAT-Lancet diet was significantly associated with reduced odds of diabetes, CVD, cancer and mortality. These findings are clinically important, highlighting the beneficial effects of the recent EAT-Lancet diet on various health outcomes.

The EAT-Lancet diet associated cardiovascular health parameters: evidence from a Brazilian study

BackgroundThe EAT-Lancet diet is a diet aimed at promoting population and planetary health from the perspective of sustainable diets in terms of environmental and health aspects. This study aimed to assess the association between adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet and cardiometabolic risk factors among adults and elderly individuals in a capital city in the northeastern region of Brazil.MethodsThis is an analytical cross-sectional observational study from a population-based sample conducted between 2019 and 2020, involving 398 non-institutionalized adults and elderly people, of both sexes from “Brazilian Usual Consumption Assessment” study (Brazuca-Natal). There was a 38% response rate due to the suspension of data collection due to the covid-19 pandemic, but According to the comparative analysis of socioeconomic and demographic variables between the surveyed and non-surveyed sectors, losses were found to be random (p = 0.135, Little’s MCAR test). Socioeconomic and lifestyle data, anthropometric measurements, and dietary consumption were collected. We used the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) and the Cardiovascular Health Diet Index (CHDI) for cardiovascular health to assess adherence to the diet’s sustainability. The evaluated cardiometabolic parameters included fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements. We also assessed the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and dyslipidemia. For the data analyses, sample weights and the effect of the study design were taken into account. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to evaluate the statistical significance of frequencies. Multiple linear regression models assessed the associations between PHDI and CHDI and its components and the cardiometabolic parameters.ResultsThe mean PHDI was 29.4 (95% CI 28.04:30.81), on a total score ranging from 0 to 150 points and the mean CHDI was 32.63 (95% CI 31.50:33.78), on a total score ranging from 0 to 110 points. PHDI showed a significant positive association with the final CHDI score and components of fruits, vegetables, and legumes, and a negative association with Ultra-processed Food (UPF) (p < 0.05). Notably, among the most consumed UPF, the following stand out: “packaged snacks, shoestring potatoes, and crackers” (16.94%), followed by margarine (14.14%). The PHDI exhibited a significant association with diabetes and dyslipidemia, as well as with systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and LDL-C.ConclusionsThe results suggest that adopting the EAT-Lancet diet is associated with the improvement of key cardiovascular health indicators.

Challenges in sustaining and expanding the implementation of the eat-lancet diet at the university cafeteria in Tokyo, Japan

Challenges in sustaining and expanding the implementation of the eat-lancet diet at the university cafeteria in Tokyo, Japan

Eat-lancet diet implementation in the school cafeteria in Tokyo, Japan: Adherence and future perspectives

Eat-lancet diet implementation in the school cafeteria in Tokyo, Japan: Adherence and future perspectives

Exploring associations between eat-lancet diet adherence and depression subtypes

Exploring associations between eat-lancet diet adherence and depression subtypes

Validity and reliability of the Sustainable HEalthy Diet (SHED) index by comparison with EAT-Lancet diet, Mediterranean diet in Turkish adults.

Food consumption and diet are strongly associated with sustainability. The Sustainable HEalthy Diet index was developed to measure the nutritional, environmental, and sociocultural components of sustainable diets and healthy eating patterns. However, a methodological approach has yet to be proposed for Turkish adults. This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the SHED index in Turkish adults. Data were collected from 558 healthy adults using a web-based questionnaire. Internal consistency reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and repeatability was evaluated using the test-retest method. Construct validity was investigated using the EAT-Lancet diet and the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), and the adapted SHED index structures' accordance was evaluated with confirmatory factor analysis. Good reliability and repeatability were found (r = 0.758 and 0.795, respectively). A higher SHED index score was related to a greater intake of grains, fruits, and vegetables and a lower intake of meat, eggs, and dairy compared to EAT-Lancet diet food groups. A higher SHED index score was associated with a lower saturated fat and added sugar intake. While the SHED index was associated with greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet (r = 0.334, p < 0.001), it was negatively associated with non-alcoholic and diet non-alcoholic beverage consumption (r = -0.257 and -0.264, respectively; p < 0.001). The SHED index showed good validity and reliability in Turkish adults. Our results suggest that the SHED index can be used in epidemiological and intervention studies because it allows the measurement of diets in terms of health and sustainability to propose adaptations accordingly.

Association of adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet with risk of dementia according to social economic status: a prospective cohort in UK Biobank.

The EAT-Lancet Commission has proposed a reference diet aiming to promote human health and environmental sustainability. Socioeconomic disadvantage and poor diet are well-known risk factors for dementia; however, whether the effect of this reference diet on dementia varies by socioeconomic status has not been investigated. The dietary habits of 190,893 participants from UK-Biobank were assessed; the association of EAT-Lancet diet with incident dementia across socioeconomic status was determined by Cox models. One thousand seven hundred twenty-eight dementia cases were identified during a median of 12.24 years follow-up. An inverse association between adherence to EAT-Lancet diet and all-cause dementia (high vs. low; hazard ratio [HR], 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82, 0.72-0.94) or late-onset dementia (high vs. low; HR, 95% CI: 0.78, 0.68-0.91) was observed only in individuals with high socioeconomic status. On the contrary, no protective effects of EAT-Lancet diet on early-onset dementia were observed, regardless of the socioeconomic status. Our findings indicated that adherence to an environment-friendly diet helps attenuate risk of dementia only in individuals with high socioeconomic level.

Are the EAT-Lancet dietary recommendations associated with cardiometabolic health? – Insights from the Generation XXI cohort from childhood into early adolescence

BackgroundThe prospective effect of healthy and planetary diets on cardiometabolic health at young ages remains unclear. ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the prospective associations between adherence to the EAT-Lancet dietary recommendations at age 7 and the prevalence of obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) at 7, 10, and 13 y old. MethodsParticipants are children from the Generation XXI birth cohort who completed 3-d food diaries at age 7, with complete data in variables of interest (n = 3564). Adherence to the EAT-Lancet dietary recommendations was evaluated using the World Index for Sustainability and Health (WISH); a higher score indicates a healthier and environmentally sustainable diet. At 7, 10, and 13 y, anthropometrics (weight, height, and waist circumference), blood pressure, serum-fasting triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glucose were measured. Obesity and MetS prevalence were determined by the World Health Organization and the International Diabetes Federation criteria, respectively. Adjusted custom binomial log-linear models were used to calculate prevalence ratios (PR) and the respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) (covariates: mother’s age, education, prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational diabetes, child’s sex, age, Tanner stage, sports practice and total grams of the remaining food). ResultsFrom 7 to 13 y, obesity decreased from 14.1% to 9.3% and MetS increased from 1.0% to 5.1%. Higher WISH scores at 7 y were associated with a lower prevalence of obesity, measured by both BMI (≥97th percentile: PR = 0.912; 95% CI: 0.839, 0.991; PR = 0.882; 95% CI: 0.79, 0.938, respectively at 10 and 13 y) and waist circumference (≥90th percentile: PR = 0.899; 95% CI: 0.830, 0.974; PR = 0.858; 95% CI: 0.782, 0.942, respectively at 10 and 13 y). For each 10-point increase in the WISH, a reduction of 16% in MetS prevalence at 13 y was observed (PR = 0.837; 95% CI: 0.732, 0.957). No significant effects were found at younger ages. ConclusionsAdherence to the EAT-Lancet diet from an early age may help reduce cardiometabolic risk in early adolescence.

Evaluation of the Climate Impact and Nutritional Quality of Menus in an Italian Long-Term Care Facility.

Global warming poses a significant threat to our planet, with the food sector contributing up to 37% of total greenhouse gas emissions. This study aimed to assess the climate change impact and healthiness of menus in a long-term care facility in Italy. We analyzed two 28-day cyclical menus using the carbon footprint (CF) and the Modified EAT-Lancet Diet Score (MELDS) to evaluate adherence to the Planetary Health Diet (PHD). Monte Carlo simulations were employed to explore 20,000 daily menu permutations. Results showed that the mean GHGEs of spring/summer and autumn/winter daily menus were 2.64 and 2.82 kg of CO2eq, respectively, with 99% of menus exceeding the 2.03 kg of CO2eq benchmark. Only 22% of menus were adherent to the PHD, with MELDSs ranging from 12 to 29. A strong inverse association between the CF and adherence to the PHD was observed. These findings suggest significant potential for reducing the CFs of meals served in nursing homes while promoting adherence to a planetary diet, presenting an opportunity to set new standards in caregiving and environmental sustainability.

Alignment between greenhouse gas emissions reduction and adherence the EAT-Lancet diet: A modeling study based on the NutriNet-Santé cohort

The potential of the EAT-Lancet reference diet, which promotes a healthy diet within planetary limits, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) remains understudied. This study examines the role of nutritional and acceptability constraints in reducing GHGe through diet optimization, and tests the alignment between GHGe reduction and the EAT-Lancet score.The study used data from 29,413 NutriNet-Santé participants to model French diets and evaluate their environmental, nutritional, economic, and health impact. The Organic Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to assess organic and conventional food consumed, and the Dialecte database was used to estimate the diet environmental impacts. Quality of diets were also evaluated based using the PNNS-GS2 (Programme National Nutrition-Santé 2 guidelines score).When testing minimizing GHGe under strict nutritional and acceptability constraints, it was possible to reduce GHGe up to 67 % (from 4.34 in the observed diet to GHGe = 1.45 kgeqCO2/d) while improving the EAT score by 103 % with 91 % of the food as organic. Greater reductions required relaxation of some constraints.When testing maximizing EAT score under gradual reduction in GHGe, the adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet was not significantly affected by the gradual reduction in GHGe. To maximize EAT score with 75 % reduction in GHGe (1.09 kgeqCO2/d), less strict constraints on the bioavailability of iron and zinc are necessary. The EAT score improved by 141 %, while land occupation decreased by 57 %, compared to the observed value. The diet contained 94 % of organic foods.There was some alignment between the degree of adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet and the reduction in GHGe, but other diets may also lead to a strong reduction in GHGe. Thus, GHGe can be greatly reduced by dietary choices, but require profound reshaping of diets which must be coupled with changes in other areas of the food chain.

What does it take to revolutionize Chinese diets: evidence from a choice experiment on urban Chinese consumers

PurposeThe purpose is to understand the factors affecting Chinese diet selections and propose strategies for revolutionizing Chinese diets toward healthy ones.Design/methodology/approachThis study implemented an online discrete choice experiment to identify the factors affecting diet selections among urban Chinese consumers. Four different diet patterns were used to label each of the product alternatives in the experiment, which varied in taste and cost. Specifically, implying the healthiness and sustainability of a diet, the diet alternatives included the average diet, the Chinese Food Guide Pagoda diet, the EAT-Lancet diet and the Flexitarian diet. Using consumer data from six provincial capital cities, we used random parameter logit models to estimate their preferences.FindingsDiet type and diet cost were found to be more important in urban Chinese consumers' diet selections than the ability to customize taste. The average diet, although not healthy and sustainable, was preferred most by respondents, signaling the challenges of shifting the consumer diet in China. Increasing the cost of the average diet can significantly promote sustainable healthy diet choices among urban Chinese residents. In other words, improving the affordability of sustainable healthy diets would have the potential to fuel the diet revolution in China.Originality/valueInstead of choices of a single food item, this paper focused on the individual selection of a diet, where different food products can act as substitutes or as complements for one another. We also proposed a way to assess individual preferences and valuations for several different diets.

Associations of the EAT-Lancet reference diet with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and its severity: A multicohort study.

The EAT-Lancet Commission devised a globally sustainable dietary pattern to jointly promote human health and sustainability. However, the extent to which this diet supports metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has not yet been assessed. This study aimed to investigate the association between the EAT-Lancet diet and the risk of MASLD and its severity. This prospective multicohort study included 15,263 adults from the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) cohort, 1137 adults from the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study (GNHS) cohort, and 175,078 adults from the UK Biobank. In addition, 228 Chinese adults from the Prospective Epidemic Research Specifically of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (PERSONS) with biopsy-proven MASLD were included. An EAT-Lancet diet index was created to reflect adherence to the EAT-Lancet reference diet. The TCLSIH cohort recorded 3010 MASLD cases during 53,575 person-years of follow-up, the GNHS cohort documented 624 MASLD cases during 6454 person-years of follow-up, and the UK Biobank developed 1350 MASLD cases during 1,745,432 person-years of follow-up. In multivariable models, participants in the highest tertiles of the EAT-Lancet diet index had a lower risk of MASLD compared with those in the lowest tertiles (TCLSIH: HR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.78, 0.96; GNHS: HR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.64, 0.98; UK Biobank: HR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.85). Moreover, liver-controlled attenuation parameter decreased with increasing the diet index in individuals with biopsy-proven MASLD (β = -5.895; 95% CI: -10.014, -1.775). Adherence to the EAT-Lancet reference diet was inversely associated with the risk of MASLD as well as its severity.

Differences in the cost and environmental impact between the current diet in Brazil and healthy and sustainable diets: a modeling study

BackgroundWhile healthy and sustainable diets benefit human and planetary health, their monetary cost has a direct impact on consumer food choices. This study aimed to identify the cost and environmental impact of the current Brazilian diet (CBD) and compare it with healthy and sustainable diets.MethodsData from the Brazilian Household Budget Survey 2017/18 and the Footprints of Foods and Culinary Preparations Consumed in Brazil database were used for a modeling study comparing the cost of healthy and sustainable diets (based on the Brazilian Dietary Guidelines (BDG) diet and the EAT-Lancet diet) versus the CBD. The DIETCOST program generated multiple food baskets for each scenario (Montecarlo simulations). Nutritional quality, cost, and environmental impact measures (carbon footprint (CF) and water footprint (WF)) were estimated for all diets and compared by ANOVA. Simple linear regressions used standardized environmental impacts measures to estimate differentials in costs and environmental impacts among diets scenarios.ResultsWe observed significant differences in costs/1000 kcal. The BDG diet was cheaper (BRL$4.9 (95%IC:4.8;4.9) ≈ USD$1.5) than the CBD (BRL$5.6 (95%IC:5.6;5.7) ≈ USD$1.8) and the EAT-Lancet diet (BRL$6.1 (95%IC:6.0;6.1) ≈ USD$1.9). Ultra-processed foods (UPF) and red meat contributed the most to the CBD cost/1000 kcal, while fruits and vegetables made the lowest contribution to CBD. Red meat, sugary drinks, and UPF were the main contributors to the environmental impacts of the CBD. The environmental impact/1000 kcal of the CBD was nearly double (CF:3.1 kg(95%IC: 3.0;3.1); WF:2,705 L 95%IC:2,671;2,739)) the cost of the BDG diet (CF:1.4 kg (95%IC:1.4;1.4); WF:1,542 L (95%IC:1,524;1,561)) and EAT-Lancet diet (CF:1.1 kg (95%IC:1.0;1.1); WF:1,448 L (95%IC:1,428;1,469)). A one standard deviation increase in standardized CF corresponded to an increase of BRL$0.48 in the cost of the CBD, similar to standardized WF (BRL$0.56). A similar relationship between the environmental impact and the cost of the BDG (CF: BRL$0.20; WF: BRL$0.33) and EAT-Lancet (CF: BRL$0.04; WF: BRL$0.18) was found, but with a less pronounced effect.ConclusionsThe BDG diet was cost-effective, while the EAT-Lancet diet was slightly pricier than the CBD. The CBD presented almost double the CF and WF compared to the BDG and EAT-Lancet diets. The lower cost in each diet was associated with lower environmental impact, particularly for the BDG and EAT-Lancet diets. Multisectoral public policies must be applied to guide individuals and societies towards healthier and more sustainable eating patterns.

Adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet and incident depression and anxiety

High-quality diets have been increasingly acknowledged as a promising candidate to counter the growing prevalence of mental health disorders. This study aims to investigate the prospective associations of adhering to the EAT-Lancet reference diet with incident depression, anxiety and their co-occurrence in 180,446 UK Biobank participants. Degrees of adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet were translated into three different diet scores. Over 11.62 years of follow-up, participants in the highest adherence group of the Knuppel EAT-Lancet index showed lower risks of depression (hazard ratio: 0.806, 95% CI: 0.730–0.890), anxiety (0.818, 0.751–0.892) and their co-occurrence (0.756, 0.624–0.914), compared to the lowest adherence group. The corresponding hazard ratios (95% CIs) were 0.711 (0.627–0.806), 0.765 (0.687–0.852) and 0.659 (0.516–0.841) for the Stubbendorff EAT-Lancet index, and 0.844 (0.768–0.928), 0.825 (0.759–0.896) and 0.818 (0.682–0.981) for the Kesse-Guyot EAT-Lancet diet index. Our findings suggest that higher adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet is associated with lower risks of incident depression, anxiety and their co-occurrence.

The EAT-Lancet Diet Index Is Associated with Lower Obesity and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in the Multiethnic Cohort

BackgroundThe EAT-Lancet Commission has developed dietary recommendations, named the EAT-Lancet diet, to promote healthy nutrition and sustainable food production worldwide. ObjectivesWe developed an adapted score for the EAT-Lancet diet for participants of the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) Study and its relation with incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). MethodsThe MEC includes 5 ethnic groups followed since 1993–1996. Anthropometric characteristics and dietary intake were assessed by questionnaire at cohort entry (Qx1) and 10 y later (Qx3). To create the EAT-Lancet index (range: 0–48 points), a 3-point scoring system for 16 food groups standardized to 2500 kcal/d was applied. T2D cases were identified through repeated self-reports and administrative data. In a prospective design, obesity at Qx3 and T2D incidence were evaluated using Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) while adjusting for relevant covariates. ResultsAmong 193,379 MEC participants, the overall mean of the EAT-Lancet index score was 25 ± 4 points and 46,140 new T2D cases were identified. Higher adjusted means were observed in females than males, in participants of Japanese American and Native Hawaiian ancestry, and in those with healthy weight than overweight or obese. Obesity was lower in cohort members with higher EAT-Lancet scores (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.79 for tertile 3 compared with 1). Although T2D incidence was 10% lower among participants in the highest (27–42 points) compared with the lowest (9–23 points) EAT-Lancet index tertile (HR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.92), the association was attenuated after BMI adjustment (HR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.94, 0.99). This inverse association with T2D was restricted to African American and European American participants. ConclusionsThese findings support the hypothesis that adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet is related to a lower risk of obesity, which may be partially responsible for the small reduction in T2D incidence.

China's dietary transition and its impact on cropland demand for sustainable agriculture

China's rapid economic development and urbanization have significantly shifted dietary patterns, increasing stress on cropland. This study addresses the need to quantify cropland demand under different dietary scenarios using the latest consistent, balanced, and physical Food and Agriculture Biomass Input–Output dataset for China (FABIO-CHN) dataset, which offers the highest sectorial resolution for agricultural products. Employing an environmentally extended multi-regional input-output (EE-MRIO) analysis, we estimated domestic cropland demand driven by various dietary patterns, including food consumption away from home and food waste. We found that most dietary patterns would increase China's domestic cropland demand except the EAT-Lancet diet and the Japanese diet, ranging from −7.0 Mha to 55.2 Mha. However, the cropland footprint demand for meat and grain consumption would decrease for all scenarios, with values between −44.8 Mha and − 5.8 Mha for meat consumption while −12.2 Mha and − 3.3 Mha for grain consumption. The current average diet in China aligns more closely with the Japanese or Mediterranean diet. However, changes in cropland demand would vary from province due to diverse dietary structures. For instance, the per-capita cropland footprint is highest in Tibet and Qinghai due to traditional meat-rich diets. Our findings highlight the critical need for region-specific dietary guidelines and contributions to global sustainability challenges such as agricultural land expansion, and food security. While shifting toward more plant-based diets like the EAT-Lancet or Japanese diet could mitigate cropland stress, tailored policies considering regional dietary habits and promoting sustainable agricultural practices are essential for supporting China's dietary transition and sustainable cropland use.

Greenhouse gas emissions of environmentally sustainable diets: Insights from the Icelandic National Dietary Survey 2019–2021

BackgroundHealth authorities are increasingly integrating environmental sustainability considerations into food-based dietary guidelines. However, concerns persist about the accuracy of the data used to assess environmental impacts, as well as the extent to which these guidelines are followed in practice. AimTo compare dietary greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions estimates using different top-down and bottom-up life cycle assessment (LCA) databases; and to estimate GHG emissions of food consumption within the ranges set for meat and dairy in recently proposed environmentally sustainable diets. MethodsDietary GHG emissions were estimated for participants in the 2019–2021 Icelandic National Dietary Survey (n = 822) using three publicly available LCA databases from Denmark, the US, and France. GHG emissions among participants whose consumption was aligned with the EAT-Lancet diet, the 2021 Danish food-based dietary guidelines and the 2023 Nordic Nutrition Recommendations were also quantified. ResultsThe mean dietary GHG emissions among participants were 6.3, 6.1, and 6.1 kg CO2-eq/day based on the Danish (top-down), US (bottom-up), and French (bottom-up) databases, respectively. The relative ranking of foods was also consistent across all three databases. For example, the relative contribution of total CO2-eq (% range for the three databases) was highest for red meat (39–51%), followed by dairy (10–17%) and beverages (9–13%). The contribution from plant-based foods (6–10%), seafood (4–11%), and poultry/eggs (<5%) was modest. The dietary habits of most participants (86%) were outside the ranges for meat and dairy consumption as set by the three sustainable diets. However, participants reporting consumption within the ranges for meat and dairy had mean GHG emissions ranging between 4.2 and 4.7 kg CO2-eq/day, depending on the diet. In comparison, the mean for participants not adhering to the sustainable diets was 7.7 kg CO2-eq/day. These results are higher than those reported in other Nordic and European studies, likely due to high consumption of lamb, beef, and dairy, and low consumption of plant-based food. ConclusionAll three LCA databases provided similar estimates for total dietary GHG emissions and relative ranking of different food groups. Based on current dietary habits in Iceland, adherence to environmentally sustainable diets would lead to a substantial reduction in dietary GHG emissions.

A comparative study of the environmentally sustainable EAT-Lancet diet vs. the Mediterranean diet in relation to cognitive performance and brain integrity

A comparative study of the environmentally sustainable EAT-Lancet diet vs. the Mediterranean diet in relation to cognitive performance and brain integrity

Dietary pattern modifies the risk of MASLD through metabolomic signature

Background & AimsThe EAT-Lancet Commission in 2019 advocated a plant-centric diet for health and environmental benefits, but its relation to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is unclear. We aimed to discover the metabolite profile linked to the EAT-Lancet diet and its association with MASLD risk, considering genetic predisposition. MethodsWe analyzed data from 105,752 UK Biobank participants with detailed dietary and metabolomic information. We constructed an EAT-Lancet diet index and derived a corresponding metabolomic signature through elastic net regression. A weighted polygenic risk score for MASLD was computed from associated risk variants. The Cox proportional hazards model was employed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of MASLD (defined as hospital admission or death). ResultsDuring a median follow-up period of 11.6 years, 1,138 cases of MASLD were documented. The multivariable HR (95% CI) of MASLD for the highest versus the lowest group for the EAT-Lancet diet index was 0.79 (0.66, 0.95). The diet's impact was unaffected by genetic predisposition to MASLD (P = 0.42). Moreover, a robust correlation was found between the metabolomic signature and the EAT-Lancet diet index (Pearson r = 0.29; P <0.0001). Participants with the highest group for the metabolomic signature showing a multivariable HR (95% CI) of 0.46 (0.37, 0.58) for MASLD, in comparison to those with the lowest group. ConclusionsHigher intake of the EAT-Lancet diet and its associated metabolite signature are both linked to a reduced risk of MASLD, independently of traditional risk factors. Impact and implicationsOur analysis leveraging the UK Biobank study showed higher adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet was associated with a reduced risk of MASLD. We identified a unique metabolite signature comprising 81 metabolites associated with the EAT-Lancet diet, potentially underlying the diet's protective mechanism against MASLD. These findings suggest the EAT-Lancet diet may offer substantial protective benefits against MASLD.