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

•Diet represents a crucial factor for the prevention of chronic-degenerative diseases.•MetS and neurodegeneration are correlated to animal-derived product consumption.•Hyper-homocysteinemia and insulin resistance are features of MetS and neurodegeneration.•Plant nutrients can improve/ameliorate both MetS and neurodegeneration.•Plant nutrients can reduce chronic inflammation observed in MetS and neurodegeneration.

Plant-based diets are known to preserve body tissues from oxidative stress and inflammation, both hallmarks of chronic-degenerative 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.