Vegetarian diets may reduce the risk of urinary tract infections

A new study from Taiwan published in Scientific Reports suggests that a vegetarian diet may be associated with a lower risk of urinary tract infections. Urinary tract infections are usually caused by bacteria such as E. coli entering the urinary tract through the urethra.

The study involved just under 10,000 Taiwanese Buddhists that are participating in various studies on the role of vegetarian diets and different health outcomes. The researchers found that the overall risk of urinary tract infections was 16% lower in the vegetarians than in the non vegetarians. Interestingly the overall risk for men was 79% lower than for women regardless of diet.

NOTE: Scientific Reports is an open access, multidisciplinary, peer reviewed journal from Nature Research.