Role of plant-based diets in the prevention and regression of metabolic syndrome and neurodegenerative diseases

Plant-based diets are known to preserve body tissues from oxidative stress and inflammation, both hallmarks of chronicdegenerative diseases. In particular, plant-derived foods, such as legumes, represent a natural source of bioactive nutrients known to contribute to the prevention and amelioration of insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension and impaired glucose metabolism, all factors implicated in metabolic syndrome (MetS), but also osteoporosis, neurodegeneration and some types of cancers. Here we revise recent literature on the role of plant-based diets, plant-foods and specific plant-nutrients in the prevention and regression of MetS and neurodegenerative diseases. We describe some of the molecular mechanisms underlying these protective effects, highlighting the role of diet in the control of hyper-homocysteinemia and insulin resistance, often implicated in the etiology of both metabolic and neurodegenerative syndromes.