Being a vegetarian may be partly genetic, new study finds
LifeStyle
The study compared the genetics of various vegetarians to the genetics of meat-eaters
(Web Desk) - "Some people may be genetically better suited for a vegetarian diet than others,” lead study author Dr Nabeel Yaseen said.
Being a vegetarian may be partly genetic, according to a new study.
Earlier this week, a study published in PLOS One found that there is a group of genes associated with an individual's ability to maintain a vegetarian lifestyle.
The study compared the genetics of various vegetarians to the genetics of meat-eaters, who shared their medical and lifestyle data with the U.K. Biobank.
The "large-scale biomedical database and research resource" contains "in-depth genetic and health information from half a million UK participants," per the organization's website.
By analyzing data from approximately 5,300 vegetarians and 329,000 meat-eaters, researchers found that genes located on a chromosome that is involved in brain function and lipid metabolism — the process of fats being broken down for energy — are linked to choosing a vegetarian lifestyle.
The research team focused on individuals that they considered to be strict vegetarians, who had not consumed meat products for at least a year.
