Leena Watts
The blood type diet, created by naturopathic physician Dr. Peter D'Adamo, claims that nutritional needs vary according to blood type. D'Adamo suggests that people with type O blood, known as Hunter, should consume a high-protein diet, while those with type A blood should favour a vegetarian diet. However, scientific studies have found no evidence to support these claims. Researchers from the University of Toronto concluded that an individual's response to a diet is unrelated to their blood type and is instead influenced by their ability to adhere to a sensible vegetarian or low-carbohydrate diet. While some improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors were observed among individuals following blood type diets, these changes were unrelated to blood type. Thus, while the blood type diet may have some benefits, it is largely unsupported by scientific evidence, and it is unlikely that blood type dictates nutritional needs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Theory | Claims that an individual's nutritional needs vary by blood type |
| Proponents | Dr. D'Adamo, Dr. Neal Barnard |
| Blood type diets | Type O: high animal protein diet; Type A: vegetarian diet; Type B: mixed diet; Type AB: wider diet type |
| Scientific evidence | No evidence to support the blood-type diet theory |
| Scientific studies | 2013, 2014, 2020, 2021, 2022 |
| Study findings | No association between blood type and diet, improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors unrelated to blood type, no difference in effects of vegan diet based on blood type |
| Other factors | Rhesus (Rh) factor, presence or absence of antigens A and B |
| Gut bacteria | Varies with blood type |
| Health effects | May be influenced by dietary choices, not blood type |
| Nutritional advice | Seek evidence-based recommendations from a nutritionist |
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What You'll Learn
Lack of scientific evidence
The blood type diet, created by naturopathic physician Paul D'Adamo, claims that an individual's nutritional needs vary according to their blood type. D'Adamo suggests that the first humans had type O blood and were hunter-gatherers, so they ate fewer carbohydrates and more protein. On the other hand, those with type A blood are believed to have descended from farmers and should thus eat more vegetables. D'Adamo also claims that people with type B blood can digest more fat because they supposedly evolved from nomadic tribes, whose diets were rich in meat and dairy.
However, there is a lack of scientific evidence supporting these claims. A 2013 study that analyzed the world's medical literature found no evidence demonstrating the benefits of a blood type diet. Similarly, a 2014 study by researchers from the University of Toronto found no evidence to support the blood type diet theory, concluding that an individual's response to a particular diet has nothing to do with their blood type. Another study in 2020 showed no major differences in cardiometabolic changes between participants of different blood types who ate a low-fat vegan diet for 16 weeks.
Additionally, a comprehensive review published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found no evidence to support the blood type diet and called for properly designed scientific studies to address the topic. While some sources mention improvements in certain cardiometabolic risk factors, such as cholesterol or blood pressure, in individuals following a blood type diet, these improvements were unrelated to blood type.
Furthermore, nutrition experts agree that there is little to no evidence indicating that blood type should dictate one's diet. While there may be certain chronic diseases associated with specific blood types, there is no data to suggest that the blood type diet will prevent those diseases any better than a general healthy diet recommended by organizations like the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.
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Lectins and blood types
The blood type diet is a popular diet that claims an individual's nutritional needs vary according to their blood type. Proponents of this diet assert that the health effects of different foods depend on an individual's blood type. For instance, according to the blood type diet, those with type A blood should eat fruit, vegetables, tofu, seafood, turkey, and whole grains but avoid meat, while those with type B blood should eat meat, fruit, dairy, seafood, and grains.
However, researchers from the University of Toronto (U of T) have found that the theory behind the blood type diet is not valid. In their study, they took a group of mostly young and healthy adults and determined their ABO blood type and the level of cardiometabolic risk factors, such as insulin, cholesterol, and triglycerides. They found no evidence to support the blood type diet theory and concluded that the associations they observed between each of the four blood type diets and the markers of health are independent of the person's blood type.
One of the central theories of the blood type diet has to do with proteins called lectins. Lectins are a family of proteins that can bind to carbohydrate molecules. Plant-based lectins are sometimes referred to as antinutrients and may cause negative effects in humans. According to the blood type diet theory, eating the wrong types of lectins may specifically target different ABO blood types and cause red blood cells to clump together, increasing the risk of disease.
While some research suggests that a small percentage of lectins in raw, uncooked legumes can have agglutinating activity specific to a certain blood type, overall, it appears that most agglutinating lectins react with all ABO blood types. For example, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), a type of lectin found in wheat, can cause issues in the body, such as a leaky gut, insulin resistance, and Vitamin D deficiency, particularly in those with type O blood. Similarly, nightshade vegetables, such as tomatoes and white potatoes, are high in lectins that can aggravate inflamed joints in people with arthritis.
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Blood types and diet restrictions
The blood type diet is based on the idea that an individual's nutritional needs vary according to their blood type. Proponents of this diet claim that the health effects of different foods depend on blood type. However, there is little to no evidence to support these claims.
The blood type diet was developed by Paul D'Adamo, a naturopathic physician, and first published in his 1996 book, "Eat Right For Your Type." D'Adamo claims that the antigens found in one's blood that determine whether one is type O, A, B, or AB are also present in other parts of the body, including the digestive tract, and that this causes the foods one eats to react chemically with one's blood type.
According to D'Adamo, those with type O blood should eat a diet high in animal protein and low in grains, similar to the paleo diet. He claims that those with type A blood should follow a vegetarian diet, as they descended from farmers and so their bodies are suited to eating more vegetables. For those with type B blood, D'Adamo recommends a diet rich in meat and dairy, as they supposedly evolved from nomadic tribes.
However, researchers from the University of Toronto (U of T) found that the theory behind the blood type diet is not valid. They studied 1,455 participants and found no evidence to support the diet theory. Their findings were published in PLoS One. Similarly, a 2020 study of 68 participants of different blood types who ate a low-fat vegan diet for 16 weeks found no major differences in cardiometabolic changes between any of the blood groups. A 2021 study by Dr. Neal Barnard also found no connection between blood type and lipid levels or other metabolic measures.
While there is no evidence to support the blood type diet theory, it is worth noting that some improvements were seen in people who adopted certain blood type diets. However, these improvements are likely due to the exclusion of unhealthy processed foods and the inclusion of healthier foods, rather than the specific blood type diet followed.
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Blood types and exercise
While the blood type diet has been debunked by researchers, with no evidence to support the theory that nutritional needs vary according to blood type, some sources suggest that certain exercises may be better suited to individuals based on their blood type.
For instance, individuals with blood type A are said to benefit most from low-impact, relaxation-based workouts like tai chi, aerobics, and yoga. The focus here is on maintaining a calm mind, even while engaging in higher-impact activities. On the other hand, blood type B individuals are recommended to balance their workouts with a mix of intense exercises and relaxation. Group exercises such as tennis, martial arts, or golf are suggested for type B individuals.
Those with blood type AB, exhibiting characteristics of both types A and B, are advised to engage in meditative activities for stress relief, along with more aggressive workouts for balance.
While these exercise recommendations exist, it is important to remember that the blood type diet and its related theories have not been scientifically validated. The improvements observed in individuals who follow blood type diets are likely due to healthier eating habits and lifestyle changes rather than the specific blood type-based regimens.
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Blood types and chronic diseases
The blood type diet is a popular diet that claims an individual's nutritional needs vary according to their blood type. Proponents of this diet claim that the health effects of different foods depend on blood type. For example, Dr. D'Adamo's blood type diet recommends that people with type O blood follow a high animal protein diet, while those with type A blood should eat mostly vegetarian food and only eat poultry and fish.
However, researchers from the University of Toronto (U of T) have found that there is no evidence to support the blood type diet theory. They studied 1,455 participants and found that the associations they observed between each of the four blood types (A, B, AB, O) and markers of health were independent of the person's blood type. Their findings were published in PLoS One.
A previous comprehensive review published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also found no evidence to support the blood-type diet and called for properly designed scientific studies to address it. Similarly, a 2013 study that analyzed the world's medical literature found no studies demonstrating the benefits of a blood-type diet. A 2021 study of people on a low-fat vegan diet also found no connection between blood type and lipid levels or other metabolic measures.
While some improvements in certain cardiometabolic risk factors, such as cholesterol or blood pressure, have been observed in people who follow a blood-type diet, these improvements are unrelated to blood type. Instead, they are likely due to the elimination of unhealthy processed foods and the increased consumption of healthy, whole foods.
In terms of chronic diseases, blood type has been found to be a risk factor for certain conditions. For example, people with type A blood are more likely to get stomach cancer, possibly due to a higher prevalence of H. pylori infection, which can cause inflammation and ulcers. Type A, B, and AB blood types are also associated with a higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), a condition where blood clots form in deep veins and can travel to the lungs. Additionally, type AB blood has been linked to an increased risk of stroke and memory problems.
On the other hand, people with type O blood may have a lower risk of coronary heart disease and tend to have a lower risk of malaria infection. They also have a higher chance of living longer, possibly due to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
While blood type may play a role in certain chronic disease risks, it is important to note that overall health and well-being are influenced by a variety of factors, including diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
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Frequently asked questions
The blood type diet is a diet based on the idea that an individual's nutritional needs vary according to their blood type.
Proponents of the blood type diet claim that the health effects of different foods depend on blood type. For example, people with type O blood should eat a lot of animal protein and few carbohydrates, while people with type A blood should eat a vegetarian diet.
There is little to no evidence that blood type diets are accurate. Researchers from the University of Toronto found no evidence to support the blood type diet theory. However, some studies have shown that people who follow a blood type diet experience improvements in certain cardiometabolic risk factors, such as cholesterol or blood pressure.
Some people believe in blood type diets because they want to improve their health and believe that eating according to their blood type will help them do so. Additionally, there is some emerging evidence of links between dietary choices, dietary risk factors, and blood type.
Blood type diets can be unnecessarily restrictive and may set people up for an unhealthy relationship with food. They can also be expensive due to the cost of recommended supplements and organic foods.
