Modifying genetic susceptibility to coronary heart disease through an integrated plant-based diet-lifestyle

Cardiovascular disease prevention has traditionally relied on broad lifestyle recommendations, while advances in genetic epidemiology have raised questions about the extent to which inherited susceptibility might limit their effectiveness. In this context, understanding whether healthy lifestyle patterns can meaningfully modify coronary heart disease risk across different levels of genetic predisposition remains a central challenge.1 In this issue of The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, Wang and colleagues address this question by examining the joint association of genetic risk and adherence to a healthy plant-based diet integrated with key lifestyle behaviours, as outlined in the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 framework.