The potential health and economic effects of plant-based food patterns in Belgium and the United Kingdom

Objective: Policymakers increasingly require scientific evidence on both health and economic consequences of different nutritional patterns. The aim of this study was to assess health and economic effects of Mediterranean and soy-containing diets. Selected countries were Belgium and the United Kingdom. Methods: Cost-effectiveness of these plant-based food patterns was assessed in comparison with a conventional diet using an age- and sex-dependent prediction model. The model allowed the prediction of health outcomes and related health care costs for the food patterns over 20 y. A societal perspective was applied for cost calculation and health outcomes were expressed in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Results: For Belgium, a soy-containing diet is estimated to lead to 202 QALYs and 107 QALYs per 1000 women and men, respectively, whereas societal savings of (sic)2 146 000 and (sic)1 653 000 are predicted. For the United Kingdom, a gain of 159 QALYs and 100 QALYs per 1000 women and men, respectively, is estimated, as are a prediction of savings of 1 pound 580 000 and 1 pound 606 000. For the Mediterranean diet in the corresponding estimates for Belgium are 184 QALYs and 148 QALYs per 1000 women and men, respectively, and savings of (sic)1 618 000 and (sic)1 595 000. For the United Kingdom, these are 122 QALYs and 110 QALYs per 1000 women and men, respectively, and savings of 1 pound 155 000 and 1 pound 046 000, respectively. Conclusion: A wider implementation of plant-based eating would lead to large net economic gains for society and improved health outcomes for the population. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.