Differences in Serum Cytokine Profiles Between Vegetarians and Omnivores: Exploratory Assessment of Dietary Factors
4 affiliations
- 1Group for Nutrition and Metabolism, Centre of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- 2Group for Hematology and Stem Cells, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- 3Group for Cardiovascular Physiology, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- 4Group for Nutritional Biochemistry and Dietology, Centre of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Evidence suggests that plant-based diets are associated with reduced risk of chronic inflammatory diseases and lower circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. However, associations with other inflammatory biomarkers, including interleukins (ILs), tumor necrosis factors (TNFs), interferons (IFNs), and chemokines, remain limited and inconclusive. This study compared multiple serum cytokine and chemokine levels between healthy vegetarians and omnivores. Methods: 160 apparently healthy, normal-weight participants aged 25–50 years, without acute and chronic illnesses or allergies, were included: 80 omnivores and 80 vegetarians (67 vegans and 13 lacto-ovo vegetarians). Serum concentrations of 13 cytokines/chemokines were measured using flow cytometry with a LEGENDplex™ bead-based multiplex immunoassay kit. Anthropometry, standard clinical hematological and biochemistry parameters, CRP, and dietary intakes were also analyzed. Results: The groups did not differ by sex (50% women), age, smoking, physical activity, or anthropometrics. Vegetarians had lower levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17A, IFN-γ, and IFN-α2, as well as lower leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, with no difference in IL-1β, IL-18, IL-33, IL-23, MCP-1, or CRP. The differences persisted after adjustment for potential confounders (although fewer remained significant after multiple-testing correction), and were principally present in both vegetarian subgroups, alongside substantial differences in multiple dietary factors. Regression analyses further confirmed the association of vegetarian dietary patterns with cytokine levels that differed. Conclusions: Vegetarian dietary patterns were associated with lower circulating concentrations of selected cytokines/chemokines in this cohort. However, the number of associations remaining after multiple-testing correction was limited; there was high multicollinearity between dietary factors, and causality could not be established. Further research is needed to elucidate causal relationships, specific dietary factors, underlying mechanisms, and clinical implications.
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BibTeX
@article{sarac2026differences,
title = {{Differences in Serum Cytokine Profiles Between Vegetarians and Omnivores: Exploratory Assessment of Dietary Factors}},
author = {Ivana Šarac and Slavko Mojsilović and Marta Despotović and Milan Ivanov and Marija Paunović and Jelena Milešević and Marija Takić},
journal = {Metabolites},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/metabo16100793},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/16/10/793},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Differences in Serum Cytokine Profiles Between Vegetarians and Omnivores: Exploratory Assessment of Dietary Factors
AU - Ivana Šarac
AU - Slavko Mojsilović
AU - Marta Despotović
AU - Milan Ivanov
AU - Marija Paunović
AU - Jelena Milešević
AU - Marija Takić
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - Metabolites
DO - 10.3390/metabo16100793
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/16/10/793
AB - Background/Objectives: Evidence suggests that plant-based diets are associated with reduced risk of chronic inflammatory diseases and lower circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. However, associations with other inflammatory biomarkers, including interleukins (ILs), tumor necrosis factors (TNFs), interferons (IFNs), and chemokines, remain limited and inconclusive. This study compared multiple serum cytokine and chemokine levels between healthy vegetarians and omnivores. Methods: 160 apparently healthy, normal-weight participants aged 25–50 years, without acute and chronic illnesses or allergies, were included: 80 omnivores and 80 vegetarians (67 vegans and 13 lacto-ovo vegetarians). Serum concentrations of 13 cytokines/chemokines were measured using flow cytometry with a LEGENDplex™ bead-based multiplex immunoassay kit. Anthropometry, standard clinical hematological and biochemistry parameters, CRP, and dietary intakes were also analyzed. Results: The groups did not differ by sex (50% women), age, smoking, physical activity, or anthropometrics. Vegetarians had lower levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17A, IFN-γ, and IFN-α2, as well as lower leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, with no difference in IL-1β, IL-18, IL-33, IL-23, MCP-1, or CRP. The differences persisted after adjustment for potential confounders (although fewer remained significant after multiple-testing correction), and were principally present in both vegetarian subgroups, alongside substantial differences in multiple dietary factors. Regression analyses further confirmed the association of vegetarian dietary patterns with cytokine levels that differed. Conclusions: Vegetarian dietary patterns were associated with lower circulating concentrations of selected cytokines/chemokines in this cohort. However, the number of associations remaining after multiple-testing correction was limited; there was high multicollinearity between dietary factors, and causality could not be established. Further research is needed to elucidate causal relationships, specific dietary factors, underlying mechanisms, and clinical implications.
SN - 2218-1989
ER -