Being a Vegetarian May Be Partly Genetic, New Study Finds

Being a vegetarian may be partly genetic, according to a new study.

Earlier this week, a study published in the journal PLOS One found that there is a cluster of genes associated with an individual’s ability to maintain a vegetarian lifestyle.

The study compared the genetics of various vegetarians with those of meat-eaters, who shared their health and lifestyle data with the UK Biobank. The “comprehensive biomedical database and research resource” contains “detailed genetic and health information from half a million UK participants,” according to the organization’s website.

Analyzing data from approximately 5,300 vegetarians and 329,000 meat-eaters, the researchers found that genes located on a chromosome involved in brain function and lipid metabolism — the process of breaking down fat for energy — were associated with choosing a vegetarian lifestyle.

The research team focused on individuals they considered strict vegetarians, who had not consumed meat products for at least a year.

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Vegetables.

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In a statement, lead study author Dr. Nabeel Yaseen, professor emeritus of pathology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, reacted to the findings.

“At this point we can say … that genetics play a significant role in vegetarianism and that some people may be genetically better suited to a vegetarian diet than others,” he said, according to CNN.

“A large proportion of self-described vegetarians actually reported consuming meat products when answering detailed questionnaires,” continued Yaseen. “This suggests that many people who would like to be vegetarian are unable to do so, and our data suggest that genetics is at least part of the reason.”

He added, per NBC News: “You don’t need to blame yourself if this is something you really can’t hold on to.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education