Is going vegetarian an intelligent choice?

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

High intelligence in kids is linked with vegetarian choice later on, according to a new study.
Being vegetarian has been linked to lower cholesterol levels and decreased risk of obesity and heart disease. Moreover, children of high intelligence tend to have a decreased risk of heart disease in later life. Now a report from the 1970 British Cohort Study suggests a link between these two findings.

The study involved 8179 men and women whose intelligence quotient (IQ) was measured at the age of ten. Twenty years on, 366 (4.5 per cent) of the participants were vegetarian. Of these, nine were vegan and 123 were vegetarian but still ate fish or chicken. The vegetarians were more likely to be female and better qualified, although not of higher income. Higher IQ at age ten was linked to a higher likelihood of being vegetarian at age 30. Better education and higher social class accounted for some, but not all, of this association. The researchers believe that the vegetarian choice may account for why those of higher IQ have better heart health in later life.

Source
BMJ Online First 15th December 2006

Please take a moment to give us your comments. For questions about Health matters you may check our "Questions & Answers" Portal and Service.