Abstract
Background
Differences in nutrient profiles between vegetarian and nonvegetarian dietary patterns
reflect nutritional differences that can contribute to the development of disease.
Objective
Our aim was to compare nutrient intakes between dietary patterns characterized by
consumption or exclusion of meat and dairy products.
Design
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 71,751 subjects (mean age=59 years) from the
Adventist Health Study 2. Data were collected between 2002 and 2007. Participants
completed a 204-item validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Dietary
patterns compared were nonvegetarian, semi-vegetarian, pesco vegetarian, lacto-ovo
vegetarian, and strict vegetarian. Analysis of covariance was used to analyze differences
in nutrient intakes by dietary patterns and was adjusted for age, sex, and race. Body
mass index and other relevant demographic data were reported and compared by dietary
pattern using χ2 tests and analysis of variance.
Results
Many nutrient intakes varied significantly between dietary patterns. Nonvegetarians
had the lowest intakes of plant proteins, fiber, beta carotene, and magnesium compared
with those following vegetarian dietary patterns, and the highest intakes of saturated,
trans, arachidonic, and docosahexaenoic fatty acids. The lower tails of some nutrient distributions
in strict vegetarians suggested inadequate intakes by a portion of the subjects. Energy
intake was similar among dietary patterns at close to 2,000 kcal/day, with the exception
of semi-vegetarians, who had an intake of 1,707 kcal/day. Mean body mass index was
highest in nonvegetarians (mean=28.7 [standard deviation=6.4]) and lowest in strict
vegetarians (mean=24.0 [standard deviation=4.8]).
Conclusions
Nutrient profiles varied markedly among dietary patterns that were defined by meat
and dairy intakes. These differences are of interest in the etiology of obesity and
chronic diseases.
Keywords
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Biography
N. S. Rizzo is an assistant professor, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, and is also associated with the Unit of Preventive Nutrition, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
Biography
K. Jaceldo-Siegl is an assistant professor, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA.
Biography
J. Sabate is a professor, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA.
Biography
G. E. Fraser is a professor, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 27, 2013
Accepted:
June 11,
2013
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health Grant 1R01-CA-94594 and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Grant 2010-38938-2092.
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
ScienceDirect
Access this article on ScienceDirectLinked Article
- Inadequate Vitamin B-12 Intake May Be a Problem Not Just for a Small Number of Adventist VegansJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsVol. 114Issue 2
- PreviewRizzo and colleagues reported nutrient intake among individuals from the Adventist Health Study-2 (AHS-2).1 In the Discussion section, the authors stated, “…low intakes of vitamin B-12 and D are of concern for a small proportion of Adventist strict vegetarians in the United States, as can be seen in the very low intakes at the 5th percentile.” In making this conclusion, the authors did not take into consideration important research findings. Bor and colleagues estimated that intake of 4 to 7 μg/day of vitamin B-12 was associated with adequate vitamin B-12 status.
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