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Dietary Quality in Vegetarian and Omnivorous Female Students in Germany: A Retrospective Study

Author

Listed:
  • Julia Blaurock

    (ZIEL-Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany)

  • Birgit Kaiser

    (ZIEL-Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany)

  • Tamara Stelzl

    (Analytical Food Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany)

  • Michelle Weech

    (Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6DZ, UK)

  • Rosalind Fallaize

    (Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6DZ, UK)

  • Rodrigo Zenun Franco

    (Globalyze, Virgílio Malta 17-76, 17014-440 Bauru, Brazil)

  • Faustina Hwang

    (Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6DH, UK)

  • Julie Lovegrove

    (Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6DZ, UK)

  • Paul M. Finglas

    (Quadram Bioscience Institute, Norwich NR4 7UQ, UK)

  • Kurt Gedrich

    (ZIEL-Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany)

Abstract

Vegetarian diets have gained in popularity, especially among highly educated women, and are considered beneficial to health. Comparative studies assessing the diet of vegetarians against omnivores are rather limited and often provide ambivalent results. Therefore, this study examined the nutrient intake and nutritional quality of vegetarian and omnivorous diets in a group of 61 female students in Germany. Habitual dietary intake was evaluated using a validated graphical online food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Differences in nutrient intakes were analyzed by Mann–Whitney-U-Tests. Odds Ratios (OR) were calculated for vegetarians exceeding dietary reference values (DRV) compared to omnivores. The overall nutritional quality was assessed using the Healthy-Eating-Index-2015 (HEI-2015). In omnivores, intakes of total energy from saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-n3-PUFA), cholesterol, sucrose, lactose, retinol, and cobalamin were significantly higher than in vegetarians. Significantly lower intakes were observed for fiber, magnesium, and beta-carotene. Significant OR were detected for total fat (OR = 0.29), SFA (OR = 0.04), beta-carotene (OR = 4.55), and cobalamin (OR = 0.32). HEI-2015 scores were higher for vegetarians than for omnivores (79 points versus 74 points) and significant differences were recorded for the HEI-2015 components dairy, seafood & plant proteins, fatty acids, added sugars, and saturated fatty acids.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Blaurock & Birgit Kaiser & Tamara Stelzl & Michelle Weech & Rosalind Fallaize & Rodrigo Zenun Franco & Faustina Hwang & Julie Lovegrove & Paul M. Finglas & Kurt Gedrich, 2021. "Dietary Quality in Vegetarian and Omnivorous Female Students in Germany: A Retrospective Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1888-:d:500034
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leahy, Eimear & Lyons, Se n & Tol, Richard S. J., 2010. "An Estimate of the Number of Vegetarians in the World," Papers WP340, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
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    Cited by:

    1. Antonia Voll & Leonardo Jost & Petra Jansen, 2023. "Heartfulness in Vegans, Vegetarians, and Omnivores," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-13, March.

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