Overview

• In data from more than 400,000 adults aged 37 to 70 across six European countries, higher adherence to a healthy plant-based diet was associated with a lower risk of developing combined cancer–cardiometabolic multimorbidity.
• Within the UK Biobank cohort, participants with higher adherence showed a 32% lower risk of multimorbidity compared with those with lower adherence.
• Protective associations were observed in both middle-aged adults under 60 and older adults 60 or above.
• The study’s healthy plant-based pattern emphasized fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and plant-based alternatives with lower meat intake, and it did not require eliminating animal products.
• Authors recommend that dietary guidelines and public-health programs prioritize predominantly plant-based patterns, noting environmental co-benefits such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and land use.