A new international study has found that eating more plant-based foods can significantly lower the risk of developing several chronic diseases at the same time.
Researchers from the University of Vienna, working with the International Agency for Research on Cancer in France and Kyung Hee University in South Korea, studied the diets and health of more than 400,000 adults across six European countries.
Their results, published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, show that plant-based diets are strongly linked to reduced risk of “multimorbidity”—the presence of two or more long-term diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.
The study analyzed data from two major European research projects: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) and the UK Biobank. Participants, aged between 37 and 70, came from Italy, Spain, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
The findings were clear: people who followed a more plant-based diet had a much lower risk of developing multimorbidity.
In the UK Biobank group, for example, those with the highest adherence to a plant-based diet had a 32% lower risk compared with those who ate the least plant-based foods.
Importantly, the researchers emphasize that adopting a plant-based diet does not necessarily mean eliminating animal products completely.
“You don’t have to cut out animal products entirely,” explained lead researcher Reynalda Córdova. “Shifting toward a more plant-based diet can already have a positive impact.”
The study also looked at whether age made a difference. The protective effect of plant-based eating was found in both middle-aged adults under 60 and older adults over 60. In both groups, a stronger plant-based diet was linked to lower risks of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, as well as a reduced likelihood of developing more than one of these conditions at the same time.
Multimorbidity is a growing concern worldwide, especially among older adults. Having more than one chronic illness not only reduces quality of life but also increases the risk of disability and premature death. The results of this study suggest that dietary choices can play an important role in reducing this burden.
A healthy plant-based diet includes higher amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and plant-based alternatives such as vegan sausages or burgers, combined with lower amounts of meat and processed meat products. The researchers stress that such diets benefit both individuals and society. Not only can they improve health outcomes, but they also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and land use, offering a bonus for the environment.
“Our study highlights that a healthy, plant-based diet not only influences individual diseases but also reduces the risk of multiple chronic illnesses in both middle-aged and older people,” said Córdova. Co-author Karl-Heinz Wagner added that the findings support national dietary guidelines in Austria, which now recommend mostly plant-based eating with small amounts of animal products.
The study’s conclusion is clear: prioritizing plant-based foods in your diet may help you stay healthier for longer and reduce the risk of developing several chronic diseases at once.
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