Are vegetarians' diets inherently healthy? Ultra-processed food consumption is associated with overweight among vegetarians: the brazilian survey on the health, food, and nutrition of vegetarians.

This cross-sectional study investigated ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and its association with overweight among Brazilian vegetarian adults (n = 925). Data were collected using a self-administered structured online questionnaire. The prevalence of overweight was 26.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 23.3-29.1). The median UPF consumption was 1.8 times/day (1.0-3.1 interquartile range [IQR]). The multivariable generalised linear model identified an increase in overweight probability as the UPF intake - categorised into quintiles - increases (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.08 [95%CI 1.01-1.17]). Additionally, age (PR 1.03 [95%CI 1.02-1.04]), eating more than three meals/day away from home (PR 1.56 [95%CI 1.08-2.23]), duration of vegetarianism (PR 0.98 [95%CI 0.97-0.99]) and living in the wealthiest regions in the country (PR 1.35 [95%CI 1.06-1.71]) were associated with overweight. Although vegetarians have a lower average UPF intake and overweight prevalence than the general population, UPF exposure can still lead to excessive weight gain or maintenance. This study endorses generalising the Brazilian Dietary Guidelines for the vegetarian population.

Percepção e satisfação corporal de estudantes universitários vegetarianos / Perception and body satisfaction of vegetarian students / Percepción y satisfacción corporal de los estudiantes vegetarianos

INTRODUÇÃO: A percepção e satisfação corporal têm sido amplamente estudadas em diversos públicos, principalmente em estudantes universitários; porém, existem poucas investigações com vegetarianos, sendo assim, torna-se necessário avaliar se o padrão alimentar vegetariano está relacionado com os fenômenos inerentes à imagem corporal. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a percepção e a satisfação corporal entre estudantes universitários vegetarianos. MÉTODO: Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 123 participantes, no qual foram aplicados o Questionário de Imagem Corporal - BSQ (Body Shape Questionnaire) e a Escala de Silhuetas de Stunkard. RESULTADOS: Os dados mostraram que 86,2% dos participantes eram eutróficos (IMC=22,4±3,3), sendo o score obtido no BSQ foi de 84,6 pontos (±36,0) correspondente à leve insatisfação com a imagem corporal. Cerca de 82,1% dos estudantes se mostravam insatisfeitos com a silhueta, dentre estes, 61,4% desejavam diminuí-la. CONCLUSÃO: O padrão alimentar (ovolactovegetariano, lactovegetariano, vegetariano estrito e vegano) não se relacionou com a insatisfação corporal, mas sim o desejo de ter silhuetas magras que são valorizadas pelo padrão de beleza vigente.

INTRODUCTION: For Body perception and satisfaction have been widely studied among different publics, especially among college students; however, there are few investigations with vegetarians. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate whether the vegetarian eating pattern is related to the phenomena inherent to body image. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate body perception and body satisfaction among vegetarian college students. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study with 123 participants, in which the Body Image Questionnaire (BSQ) and the Stunkard Silhouette Scale were applied. RESULTS: The data showed that 86.2% of the participants were eutrophic (BMI=22.4±3.3), and the score obtained in the BSQ was 84.6 points (±36.0) corresponding to a mild dissatisfaction with body image. About 82.1% of the students were dissatisfied with their silhouette, and 61.4% of them wanted to reduce it. CONCLUSION: Dietary patterns (ovolactovegetarian, lactovegetarian, strict vegetarian, and vegan) were not related to body dissatisfaction, but rather the desire to have thin silhouettes that are valued by the prevailing beauty standard.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La percepción y satisfacción corporal han sido ampliamente estudiadas entre diferentes públicos, especialmente entre estudiantes universitarios; sin embargo, existen pocos estudios sobre vegetarianos, por lo que es necesario evaluar si el patrón alimentario vegetariano está relacionado con los fenómenos inherentes a la imagen corporal. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la percepción corporal y la satisfacción corporal entre estudiantes universitarios vegetarianos. MÉTODO: Se trata de un estudio transversal con 123 participantes, en el que se aplicaron el Cuestionario de Imagen Corporal - BSQ (Body Shape Questionnaire) y la Escala de Siluetas de Stunkard. RESULTADOS: Los datos mostraron que el 86,2% de los participantes eran eutróficos (IMC=22,4±3,3), y la puntuación obtenida en el BSQ fue de 84,6 puntos (±36,0) correspondiente a una insatisfacción leve con la imagen corporal. Alrededor del 82,1% de los estudiantes estaban insatisfechos con su silueta, entre ellos, el 61,4% deseaba reducirla. CONCLUSIÓN: El patrón alimentario (ovolactovegetariano, lactovegetariano, vegetariano estricto y vegano) no estaba relacionado con la insatisfacción corporal, sino con el deseo de tener siluetas delgadas que son valoradas por el estándar de belleza vigente.

Alimentación basada en plantas: la nueva tendencia nutricional / Plant-based diets: the new nutritional trend

En la actualidad cada vez más familias optan por seguir una alimentación basada en plantas (ABP). Es fundamental que pediatras y agentes de salud conozcan estos tipos de patrones alimentarios para asesorar adecuadamente a sus pacientes y derivarlos oportunamente a especialistas capacitados con el objetivo de garantizar un adecuado crecimiento y desarrollo principalmente en la edad pediátrica, evitando posibles consecuencias negativas sobre la salud. La mayoría de las sociedades científicas del mundo considera a las dietas vegetarianas apropiadas para todas las etapas de la vida si están correctamente planificadas, suplementadas y con un seguimiento adecuado por especialistas capacitados. Con respecto a las dietas veganas existen controversias por parte de las distintas sociedades con respecto a si son adecuadas o no en pediatría. Recientemente se han revisado las descripciones respecto a las tipificaciones de una ABP y se ha propuesto una definición estándar de estos tipos de dieta. Los riesgos más significativos asociados a la mala planificación de estas dietas son las deficiencias de calcio, vitamina D y vitamina B12, aunque también se debe tener en cuenta el estado del zinc, selenio, yodo y los ácidos grasos Omega 3. Es importante la planificación diaria de un plato nutricionalmente completo y es incuestionable que quienes siguen estos patrones alimentarios reciban suplementos con vitamina B12 adecuados para cada etapa de la vida. Se requieren más estudios en pediatría para evaluar los efectos de las distintas ABP sobre la ingesta de nutrientes, el estado nutricional, el crecimiento, desarrollo y la prevención de enfermedades no transmisibles (AU)

Currently, an increasing number of families are choosing to follow a plant-based diet (PBD). It is essential that pediatricians and healthcare agents know these types of dietary patterns in order to properly advise their patients and refer them to trained specialists to ensure adequate growth and development, especially in the pediatric age, avoiding possible negative health consequences. Most of the world's scientific societies consider vegetarian diets appropriate for all stages of life if they are adequately planned, supplemented and monitored by trained specialists. However, there is controversy among different societies regarding the appropriateness of vegan diets for children. Recently, there has been a review of descriptions concerning the characteristics of a plant-based diet, leading to a proposed standard definition for these types of diets. The most significant risks associated with poorly planned diets are calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 deficiencies, although zinc, selenium, iodine and omega-3 fatty acid status should also be considered. The daily planning of a nutritionally complete meal is important and it is imperative that those who follow these dietary patterns receive vitamin B12 supplementation appropriate for each stage of life. Further studies in children are needed to evaluate the effects of different PBDs on nutrient intake, nutritional status, growth, development, and prevention of noncommunicable diseases (AU)

Plant-based diets and their effects on the metabolism and survival of chronic renal patients undergoing conservative treatment

Diet therapy in conservative treatment of chronic kidney disease involves protein restriction, but there is not enough evidence to recommend a particular type of protein, whether animal or plant based. However, studies suggest that plant-based diets help reduce the consumption of total and animal protein, reduce the need for nephroprotective drugs, improve complications and bring advantages in terms of disease progression and patient survival. The article considers up-to-date data on the effects of this diet and observed that when low in protein, primarily vegetable and in some cases supplemented with ketoanalogues, it can result in positive clinical outcomes, such as: delay in the decrease in the glomerular filtration rate, lower concentrations of urea, reduction of serum creatinine and phosphorus concentrations, lower metabolic acidosis, higher insulin sensitivity and lower systemic inflammation. As a whole, this dietary pattern may be able to postpone the start of dialysis with less progression of renal insufficiency. Additional research is needed to better characterize this dietary pattern.

La dietoterapia en el tratamiento conservador de la enfermedad renal crónica implica la restricción de proteínas, pero aún no hay pruebas suficientes para recomendar un tipo concreto de proteínas, ya sean animales o vegetales. Sin embargo, los estudios sugieren que las dietas basadas en plantas ayudan a reducir la ingesta de proteínas totales y animales, disminuyen la necesidad de fármacos nefroprotectores, mejoran las complicaciones y presentan ventajas con respecto a la progresión de la enfermedad y la supervivencia de los pacientes. En este artículo se consideran datos actualizados sobre los efectos de esta dieta y se observa que, cuando es hipoproteica, principalmente vegetal y en algunos casos se complementa con cetoanálogos, puede dar lugar a resultados clínicos positivos, como una disminución retardada de la tasa de filtración glomerular, concentraciones más bajas de urea, concentraciones reducidas de creatinina y fósforo séricos, menor acidosis metabólica, mayor sensibilidad a la insulina y menor inflamación sistémica. En conjunto, este patrón dietético tiene el potencial de retrasar el inicio de la diálisis con una menor progresión de la insuficiencia renal. Es necesario seguir investigando para caracterizar mejor este patrón dietético.

Genomic Instability and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Two Communities Exposed to Pesticides in the Mexicali Valley by the L-CBMN Assay.

The continuous biomonitoring of a population directly or indirectly exposed to pesticides could be an additional tool for decision makers to improve their health conditions. In this work, we performed biomonitoring on two groups of people from the Mexicali Valley who were continuously exposed to pesticides using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay (L-CBMN) to evaluate cytotoxic and genotoxic damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The study groups comprised 14 indigenous Cucapah with non-vegetarian habits (NV group) from Ejido el Mayor (32.12594°, -115.27265°) and 21 lacto-ovo vegetarian (LOV) persons from the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Ejido Vicente Guerrero (32.3961°, -115.14023°). The L-CBMN assay determines the nuclear division index (NDI), apoptosis, necrosis, micronuclei (MNs), nuclear buds (NBUDs), and nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs). Our results show that, regardless of diet or daily habits, both the studied groups presented with cytogenotoxic damage compared with non-exposed pesticide individuals, without modifications to the nuclear division index. In the rest of the evaluated biomarkers, the NV group exhibited greater cytotoxic and genotoxic damage than the LOV group. Nevertheless, individuals practicing a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (LOV) showed lower damage than those with non-vegetarian habits (NV), suggesting a better antioxidant response that helps decrease the genotoxic damage due to the enhanced intake of folates and antioxidants from a plant-based diet.

Plant-Based Nutrition: Exploring Health Benefits for Atherosclerosis, Chronic Diseases, and Metabolic Syndrome-A Comprehensive Review.

Atherosclerosis, chronic non-communicable diseases, and metabolic syndrome are highly interconnected and collectively contribute to global health concerns that reduce life expectancy and quality of life. These conditions arise from multiple risk factors, including inflammation, insulin resistance, impaired blood lipid profile, endothelial dysfunction, and increased cardiovascular risk. Adopting a plant-based diet has gained popularity as a viable alternative to promote health and mitigate the incidence of, and risk factors associated with, these three health conditions. Understanding the potential benefits of a plant-based diet for human health is crucial, particularly in the face of the rising prevalence of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Thus, this review focused on the plausible advantages of consuming a type of food pattern for the prevention and/or treatment of chronic diseases, emphasizing the dietary aspects that contribute to these conditions and the evidence supporting the benefits of a plant-based diet for human health. To facilitate a more in-depth analysis, we present separate evidence for each of these three concepts, acknowledging their intrinsic connection while providing a specific focus on each one. This review underscores the potential of a plant-based diet to target the underlying causes of these chronic diseases and enhance health outcomes for individuals and populations.

Intestinal microbiome characterization of adult Brazilian men with psoriasis compared to omnivore and vegetarian controls.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with systemic inflammation and comorbidities. Changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiome are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases and metabolic syndrome. Characterizing the intestinal microbiome of patients with psoriasis may be relevant for the understanding of its clinical course and comorbidity prevention. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the intestinal microbiome of men with psoriasis compared to omnivore and vegetarian controls (without psoriasis). METHOD: Cross-sectional study of 42 adult males: 21 omnivores with psoriasis; and controls: 14 omnivores and 7 vegetarian individuals. The characterization of the intestinal microbiome was performed by metagenomic analysis. Serum levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LPB) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated. RESULTS: The groups differed from each other regarding nutritional aspects and microbiome; individuals with psoriasis had a higher consumption of protein and lower consumption of fibers. Levels of LPB, CRP, and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio were higher in the group with psoriasis than in the vegetarian group (p<0.05). The genera Prevotella, Mogibacterium, Dorea, Bifidobacterium and Coprococcus, differed in the group with psoriasis compared to vegetarians; the genera Mogibacterium, Collinsella and Desulfovibrio differed from omnivores. A microbiome pattern linked to psoriasis (plsPSO) was identified, which was associated with higher LPB levels (rho=0.39; p=0.02), and lower dietary fiber intake (rho=-0.71; p<0.01). STUDY LIMITATIONS: Only adult men were evaluated. CONCLUSION: A difference was identified in the intestinal microbiome of adult men with psoriasis when compared to healthy omnivores and vegetarian controls. The identified microbiome pattern was correlated with dietary fiber intake and serum levels of LPB.

Evaluación de ingesta dietética según el nivel socioeconómico en un grupo de personas vegetarianas en Colombia

Diferentes estudios han relacionado el nivel socioeconómico con la calidad de la dieta y la prevalencia de riesgo de deficiencia de nutrientes. En personas vegetarianas, cuando no se sigue una dieta adecuada, existe la posibilidad de tener una baja ingesta de ciertos nutrientes, principalmente de vitamina B12, vitamina D, calcio, hierro, zinc, ácidos grasos omega-3 y proteínas. Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar la ingesta dietética en personas vegetarianas según su nivel socioeconómico en una región de Colombia. Los participantes completaron un cuestionario en el cual se les preguntó por variables socioeconómicas, antropométricas y la frecuencia de consumo de 48 alimentos y suplementos. Posteriormente, a un subgrupo de la muestra se le realizaron dos recordatorios de 24 horas en diferentes días de la semana. Se encontró que, a menor nivel socioeconómico, hay un menor consumo de lácteos, cereales integrales, frutas y verduras. Así mismo, se observó que según el tipo de vegetarianismo hay diferencias en el consumo de cobalamina, fibra y calcio. Se concluye que, de manera similar a los omnívoros, se requiere de educación nutricional para mejorar la elección de los alimentos y lograr suplir los requerimientos nutricionales, independientemente del nivel económico.

Different studies have related socioeconomic status to diet quality and the prevalence of nutrient deficiency risk. Among vegetarians, when an adequate diet is not followed, there is a possibility of having a low intake of certain nutrients, mainly vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids and proteins. This study aims to evaluate the dietary intake of vegetarians according to their socioeconomic level in a region of Colombia. Participants completed a questionnaire in which they were asked about socioeconomic and anthropometric variables and the frequency of consumption of 48 foods and supplements. Subsequently, a subgroup of the sample was given two 24-hour reminders on different days of the week. We found that the lower the socioeconomic level, the lower the consumption of dairy products, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Likewise, it was observed that depending on the type of vegetarianism, there are differences in the consumption of cobalamin, fiber and calcium. We conclude that, similar to omnivores, nutritional education is required to improve the choice of foods and to meet nutritional requirements, regardless of economic level.

Plant-based and vegetarian diets: an overview and definition of these dietary patterns.

PURPOSE: This paper aims to present an overview of the definitions of "plant-based and "vegetarian diets" adopted by different organizations worldwide, proposing new standard definitions and discussing the notion of vegetarianism as a restrictive dietary pattern. METHODS: An extensive literature review on the different definitions of vegetarian and plant-based diets was conducted. Definitions of different international vegetarian and vegan organizations were also taken into account. Objective definitions for vegetarian and plant-based diets, as well as for their subcategories, were proposed. Other aspects related to how vegetarian diets are viewed and defined were also discussed. RESULTS: We proposed that a vegetarian diet should be defined as "a dietary pattern that excludes meat, meat-derived foods, and, to different extents, other animal products". This definition would include, among others, ovolactovegetarian and vegan diets. The proposed definition for a plant-based diet was "a dietary pattern in which foods of animal origin are totally or mostly excluded". Other types of diets, such as flexitarian and pescetarian diets, could be considered plant-based. A vegetarian diet should not be considered restrictive. Instead, terms such as alternative or non-conventional could be used to define it and to distinguish it from the conventional diet adopted by most of the Western population. CONCLUSION: This paper was able to elaborate objective definitions of vegetarian and plant-based diets. Standardizing nomenclatures may reduce misinterpretation and confusion in this field of study.

Vitamin B12 sources in non-animal foods: a systematic review.

Interest in plant-based diets and vegetarianism is increasing worldwide, however, a concern for total vegetarians is vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency. We conducted a systematic review to investigate non-animal food sources of B12. Databases were PubMed, LILACS, Cochrane, Embase and Google Scholar, up to September 9, 2020. Quality of the eligible studies were assessed. We identified 25 studies which assessed B12 content in seaweeds, mushrooms, plants and fermented foods. Initial studies were microbiological bioassay, ELISA and HPLC. In the last decade, more sensitive method for real B12 determination was used, the liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry chromatograms. Real B12 content varied from mean (SD) mcg/portion size of seaweed hijiki 3 × 10-3/7 g to nori 1.03 - 2.68/sheet; mushroom white button cap 2 × 10-3(7 × 10-4)/20 g dry weight (dw) to shiitake 0.79(0.67)-1.12 (0.78)/20 g dw; and fermented foods from soy yogurt 20/cup. It is possible that daily recommendations for B12 can be met by a varied diet containing non-animal B12 food sources. Future research should consider different methods of storage, preparation, fermented foods and standardization of the production of certain foods.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2022.2053057.

Association between meatless diet and depressive episodes: A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the longitudinal study of adult health (ELSA-Brasil).

BACKGROUND: The association between vegetarianism and depression is still unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between a meatless diet and the presence of depressive episodes among adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was performed with baseline data from the ELSA-Brasil cohort, which included 14,216 Brazilians aged 35 to 74 years. A meatless diet was defined from in a validated food frequency questionnaire. The Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised (CIS-R) instrument was used to assess depressive episodes. The association between meatless diet and presence of depressive episodes was expressed as a prevalence ratio (PR), determined by Poisson regression adjusted for potentially confounding and/or mediating variables: sociodemographic parameters, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, several clinical variables, self-assessed health status, body mass index, micronutrient intake, protein, food processing level, daily energy intake, and changes in diet in the preceding 6 months. RESULTS: We found a positive association between the prevalence of depressive episodes and a meatless diet. Meat non-consumers experienced approximately twice the frequency of depressive episodes of meat consumers, PRs ranging from 2.05 (95%CI 1.00-4.18) in the crude model to 2.37 (95%CI 1.24-4.51) in the fully adjusted model. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design precluded the investigation of causal relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive episodes are more prevalent in individuals who do not eat meat, independently of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. Nutrient deficiencies do not explain this association. The nature of the association remains unclear, and longitudinal data are needed to clarify causal relationship.

Intestinal microbiome characterization of adult Brazilian men with psoriasis compared to omnivore and vegetarian controls

Abstract Background Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with systemic inflammation and comorbidities. Changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiome are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases and metabolic syndrome. Characterizing the intestinal microbiome of patients with psoriasis may be relevant for the understanding of its clinical course and comorbidity prevention. Objective To characterize the intestinal microbiome of men with psoriasis compared to omnivore and vegetarian controls (without psoriasis). Method Cross-sectional study of 42 adult males: 21 omnivores with psoriasis; and controls: 14 omnivores and 7 vegetarian individuals. The characterization of the intestinal microbiome was performed by metagenomic analysis. Serum levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LPB) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated. Results The groups differed from each other regarding nutritional aspects and microbiome; individuals with psoriasis had a higher consumption of protein and lower consumption of fibers. Levels of LPB, CRP, and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio were higher in the group with psoriasis than in the vegetarian group (p < 0.05). The genera Prevotella, Mogibacterium, Dorea, Bifidobacterium and Coprococcus, differed in the group with psoriasis compared to vegetarians; the genera Mogibacterium, Collinsella and Desulfovibrio differed from omnivores. A microbiome pattern linked to psoriasis (plsPSO) was identified, which was associated with higher LPB levels (rho = 0.39; p = 0.02), and lower dietary fiber intake (rho = −0.71; p < 0.01). Study limitations Only adult men were evaluated. Conclusion A difference was identified in the intestinal microbiome of adult men with psoriasis when compared to healthy omnivores and vegetarian controls. The identified microbiome pattern was correlated with dietary fiber intake and serum levels of LPB.

Análise comparativa da percepção corporal sobre o treinamento entre indivíduos onívoros e vegetarianos / Análisis comparativo de la percepción corporal sobre el entrenamiento entre individuos omnívoros y vegetarianos / Comparative analysis of body perception on training between omnivorous and vegetarian individuals

Dietas vegetarianas vêm sendo cada vez mais adotadas no mundo. Com isso, há uma preocupação com a adequação nutricional e desempenho esportivo crescente entre profissionais de saúde e treinadores. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a percepção corporal sobre o treinamento físico entre indivíduos onívoros e vegetarianos e, de forma secundária, comparar a percepção entre as diferentes dietas vegetarianas no desempenho esportivo. A amostra teve um total de 189 participantes (47 do sexo masculino e 142 do sexo feminino), sendo 91 onívoros (31 do sexo masculino e 60 do sexo feminino) e 98 vegetarianos (17 do sexo masculino e 81 do sexo feminino). Foi utilizado o questionário de Percepção do Corpo na Performance Esportiva (Pecopes), constituído por duas dimensões: dimensão 1 = percepção do corpo no desempenho esportivo; dimensão 2 = percepção do corpo no treinamento técnico e tático. Os resultados mostraram uma diferença significativa na dimensão 1 favorável aos vegetarianos quando comparados aos onívoros. O subgrupo ovolactovegetariano também obteve resultado significativamente superior aos onívoros na dimensão 1. Assim, foi possível concluir que os participantes vegetarianos do presente estudo apresentaram uma melhor percepção do corpo no desempenho esportivo comparado com os onívoros, porém não foram encontradas diferenças na percepção do corpo quanto ao treinamento técnico e tático.

Las dietas vegetarianas se adoptan cada vez más en el mundo. Por lo tanto, existe una preocupación por la adecuación nutricional y el aumento del rendimiento deportivo entre los profesionales de la salud y los entrenadores. El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la percepción corporal del entrenamiento físico entre individuos omnívoros y vegetarianos y, en segundo lugar, comparar la percepción de diferentes dietas vegetarianas sobre el rendimiento deportivo. La muestra tuvo un total de 189 participantes (47 hombres y 142 mujeres), siendo 91 omnívoros (31 hombres y 60 mujeres) y 98 vegetarianos (17 hombres y 81 mujeres). Se utilizó el cuestionario de Percepción del Cuerpo en el Rendimiento Deportivo (Pecopes), que consta de dos dimensiones: dimensión 1 = percepción del cuerpo en el rendimiento deportivo; dimensión 2 = percepción corporal en el entrenamiento técnico y táctico. Los resultados mostraron una diferencia significativa en la dimensión 1 favorable a los vegetarianos en comparación con los omnívoros. El subgrupo ovolactovegetariano también tuvo un resultado significativamente mayor que los omnívoros en la dimensión 1. Así, fue posible concluir que los participantes vegetarianos en el presente estudio tenían una mejor percepción del cuerpo en el rendimiento deportivo en comparación con los omnívoros, pero no hubo diferencias. que se encuentran en la percepción del cuerpo con respecto al entrenamiento técnico y táctico.

Vegetarian diets are increasingly being adopted around the world. Thus, there is a concern about nutritional adequacy and growing sports performance among health professionals and coaches. This study aimed to analyze the body perception of physical training between omnivorous and vegetarian individuals and, secondarily, to compare the perception of different vegetarian diets on sports performance. The sample had a total of 189 participants (47 males and 142 females), being 91 omnivores (31 males and 60 females) and 98 vegetarians (17 males and 81 females). We used the Body Perception on Sports Performance (Pecopes) questionnaire, which consists of two dimensions: dimension 1 = perception of the body in sports performance; dimension 2 = body perception in technical and tactical training. The results showed a significant difference in dimension 1, favorable to vegetarians when compared to omnivores. The ovolactovegetarian subgroup also obtained a significantly higher result than omnivores in dimension 1. Thus, it was possible to conclude that vegetarian participants in the present study had a better body perception during sports performance compared to omnivores, but there were no differences in body perception regarding technical and tactical training.

Consumo de alimentos, estado nutricional antropométrico, actividad física y motivaciones de vegetarianismo en adultos venezolanos / Food consumption, anthropometric nutritional status, physical activity and motivations for vegetarianism in Venezuelan adults

Introducción: las dietas vegetarianas o que evitan las carnes animales incluyen a las dietas ovolactovegetarianas, veganas, entre otras variantes basadas en plantas. Objetivo: caracterizar el consumo de alimentos, estado nutricional antropométrico, nivel de actividad física y las motivaciones en una muestra de adultos vegetarianos provenientes de los estados Distrito Capital, Yaracuy y Carabobo de Venezuela. Materiales y métodos: fueron evaluados 51 adultos, 23,5% veganos y 76,5% ovolactovegetarianos, con edades entre 18 y 65 años. Se realizó un recordatorio de ingesta de alimentos en 24 horas, se tomaron indicadores de dimensión (IMC y circunferencia de cintura) y composición corporal (área muscular y porcentaje de grasa), se aplicó el instrumento IPAQ largo de actividad física y se preguntó por la principal motivación para seguir estas dietas. Resultados: la dieta resultó deficitaria en calorías (60,8%), baja en carbohidratos (72,5%) y grasas (58,8%), y elevada en proteínas (43,1%) y fibra dietética (70,6%). El estado nutricional antropométrico de los individuos resultó en un peso adecuado (62,7%), muscularidad (51%) y grasa (68,6%) promedio, y riesgo bajo según circunferencia de cintura (86,3%). El nivel de actividad física que prevaleció fue representado por las categorías moderada e intensa con 39,2% cada una. La mayoría decidió seguir la dieta vegetariana por razones de salud 72,5%. Conclusiones: la mayoría del grupo de estudio, a pesar de tener una dieta desequilibrada (baja en carbohidratos y grasas, pero alta en proteínas y fibra), presentó el estado nutricional antropométrico y niveles de actividad física en rangos aceptables(UA)

Introduction: vegetarian diets are diets that avoid animal meat, it includes ovolactovegetarian and vegan diets, among other plant-based variants. Objective: to characterize food consumption, anthropometric nutritional assessment, physical activity level and motivations in a sample of vegetarian adults from the Capital District, Yaracuy and Carabobo states of Venezuela. Materials and methods: 51 adults were evaluated, 23.5% vegan and 76.5% ovo-lacto vegetarian, aged between 18 and 65 years. A 24-hour dietary recall was carried out, indicators of dimension (BMI and waist circumference) and body composition (muscle area and percentage of fat) were taken, the long IPAQ instrument of physical activity was applied and it was asked about the main motivation to follow these diets. Results: the diet was deficient in calories (60.8%), low in carbohydrates (72.5%) and fats (58.8%), and high in proteins (43.1%) and dietary fiber (70.6 %). The anthropometric nutritional assessment of the individuals resulted in an adequate weight (62.7%), average muscularity (51%) and fat (68.6%), and low risk according to waist circumference (86.3%). The level of physical activity that prevailed were the moderate and intense categories with 39.2% each. The majority decided to follow the vegetarian diet for health reasons 72.5%. Conclusions: the majority of the study group, despite having an unbalanced diet (low in carbohydrates and fats, but high in proteins and fiber), presented an anthropometric nutritional status and levels of physical activity within acceptable ranges(AU)

Obese Vegetarians and Omnivores Show Different Metabolic Changes: Analysis of 1340 Individuals.

Our study evaluated the association between the increase in body mass index (BMI) in men and women (menstruating and non-menstruating) (n = 1340) with different dietary groups (omnivores, semi-vegetarians, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, and vegans) and the measurement of the biochemical markers high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), ferritin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). Increasing BMI values in all groups and dietary profiles were related to a significant increase in hs-CRP (p < 0.0001), ALT (p = 0.02), ferritin (p = 0.009), and HbA1C (p < 0.0001), with no difference between dietary groups (p < 0.05). The increase in BMI increases the levels of HOMA-IR (p < 0.0001) and GGT (p < 0.05), with higher values found in men when compared to women (p < 0.0001 for HOMA- IR and p = 0.0048 for GGT). The association between ALT and BMI was different between dietary groups, as it showed a decrease in vegan women who do not menstruate compared to other dietary groups (p = 0.0099). When including only obese individuals (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, n = 153) in the analysis, we observed lower concentrations of GGT and ferritin in vegetarians than in omnivores, regardless of gender and menstrual blood loss (p = 0.0395). Our data showed that for both vegetarians and omnivores, the higher the BMI, the worse the metabolic parameters. However, regarding obesity, vegetarians showed better antioxidant status (lower GGT elevation) and lower inflammatory status (lower ferritin elevation), which may provide them with potential protection in the development of morbidities associated with overweight.

Dietas vegetarianas en niños, niñas y adolescentes: revisión bibliográfica / Vegetarian diets in children and adolescents: a literature review / Dietas vegetarianas em crianças e adolescentes: revisão bibliográfica

Las dietas vegetarianas han alcanzado en los últimos tiempos un gran protagonismo como modalidad de alimentación de nuestra población, incluyendo la población pediátrica. Constituyen una opción de alimentación válida si se planifican adecuadamente. Los padres que optan ofrecer a sus hijos este tipo de dietas deben conocer sus riesgos y potenciales beneficios. El médico del primer nivel de atención que asiste a niños, niñas y adolescentes (NNA) tiene una formación limitada sobre nutrición, sin embargo debe supervisar que la alimentación de esta población sea la adecuada. Es necesario conocer los alimentos que integran las dietas vegetarianas, así como las necesidades calóricas, de nutrientes críticos y suplementación de estos NNA según su edad. Realizar una adecuada planificación, es el gold standard para mantener un adecuado estado nutricional, crecimiento y desarrollo. El objetivo de esta publicación es revisar los principios de este tipo de dietas, sus beneficios y riesgos, y se establecen algunas consideraciones y recomendaciones prácticas para su abordaje desde la Atención Primaria de la Salud.

Vegetarian diets have recently reached a great protagonism as a way of feeding our population, including the pediatric population. They are a valid feeding option if properly planned. Parents who choose to offer their children this type of diet should know its risks and potential benefits. The primary care physician who assists children and adolescents (NNA) has limited training in nutrition; however, you must supervise that the diet of this population is adequate. It is necessary to know the foods that make up vegetarian diets, as well as the caloric needs, of critical nutrients and supplementation of these children according to their age. Carrying out adequate planning is the gold standard to maintain adequate nutritional, growth and development status. The objective of this publication is to review the principles of this type of diet, its benefits and risks, and establish some practical considerations and recommendations for its approach from Primary Health Care.

A alimentação vegetariana tem atingido recentemente um grande protagonismo como forma de alimentação de nossa população, inclusive a pediátrica. Ela é uma opção de alimentação válida se devidamente planejada. Os pais que optam por oferecer a seus filhos esse tipo de dieta devem estar conscientes de seus riscos e potenciais benefícios. O médico de atenção primária que assiste crianças e adolescentes (NNA) tem treinamento limitado em nutrição; no entanto, deve-se supervisionar se a alimentação dessa população é adequada. É necessário conhecer os alimentos que compõem a dieta vegetariana, bem como as necessidades calóricas, de nutrientes críticos e de suplementação dessas crianças de acordo com a sua idade. Realizar um planejamento adequado é fundamental para manter o estado nutricional, de crescimento e de desenvolvimento adequado. O objetivo deste paper é revisar os princípios desse tipo de dieta, seus benefícios e riscos, e estabelecer algumas considerações práticas e recomendações para sua abordagem desde a perspectiva da Atenção Primária à Saúde.

Dietas vegetarianas en niños: conocimientos de pediatras de la Sociedad Uruguaya de Pediatría: encuesta 2020 / Vegetarian diet in children: pediatric knowledge from the Uruguayan Society of Pediatrics: 2020 survey / Dietas vegetarianas em crianças: conhecimento dos pediatras da Sociedade Uruguaia de Pediatria: inquérito 2020

Introducción: en los últimos años el incremento de vegetarianos es considerable. Se debe tener cautela al incorporar este tipo de dietas en la población pediátrica. No son contempladas en las actuales guías de nutrición nacionales, generando incertidumbre al realizar recomendaciones. Objetivo: describir los conocimientos sobre dietas vegetarianas en niños por parte de médicos pediatras, posgrados y residentes socios de la Sociedad Uruguaya de Pediatría en el período de junio-setiembre 2020. Determinar la necesidad de incorporar dietas vegetarianas a las guías uruguayas de nutrición pediátrica por parte de los encuestados. Material y método: estudio observacional descriptivo, tipo encuesta transversal, en el período entre junio y setiembre de 2020. Los criterios de inclusión fueron médicos residentes/posgrados en pediatría y pediatras de la Sociedad Uruguaya de Pediatría, de Montevideo y el interior del país. La fuente de datos fue una encuesta online anónima. El análisis de datos fueron frecuencias relativas y absolutas para variables cualitativas. Resultados: se enviaron 1.080 encuestas online, de las que se incluyeron 119. Sobre la autopercepción en el conocimiento de los encuestados, el 58,0% se calificó dentro del rango medio. Acerca del concepto de dieta ovolactovegetariana, 63,9% seleccionó la opción correcta. Más de 50,0% respondió correctamente acerca de conocimientos sobre nutrientes en la mayoría de los ítems. Iniciar estas dietas en la alimentación complementaria fue desaconsejado por el 58% de los socios. Un 79,8% pretende adquirir más conocimientos del tema. Conclusiones: más de la mitad de los profesionales tiene los conocimientos correctos acerca de la correcta planificación y suplementación de dietas vegetarianas en niños. Se destaca la necesidad de incluir dietas vegetarianas en las guías de alimentación pediátrica en territorio uruguayo.

Introduction: the number of vegetarian people has increased considerably in recent years. Caution is suggested when incorporating this type of diet to the pediatric population. This diet has not been contemplated in the current national nutritional guidelines, generating uncertainty among pediatricians when making recommendations. Objective: describe the knowledge Pediatric Physicians and graduate / resident members of the Uruguayan Society of Pediatrics have regarding vegetarian diets in children during the period June-September 2020. Determine the need of the participants of the survey to incorporate vegetarian diet information into the Uruguayan Pediatric Nutritional Guidelines. Materials and methods: descriptive observational study, cross-sectional survey carried out from June to September 2020. The inclusion criteria included resident doctors / postgraduate pediatricians and pediatricians from the Uruguayan Society of Pediatrics of Montevideo and the interior of the country. The data source was an anonymous online survey. The data analyses were relative and absolute frequencies of qualitative variables. Results: 1.080 online surveys were sent and 119 were included. Regarding the respondents' self-perception of knowledge, 58.0% were rated within the medium range. Regarding the concept of lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet, 63.9% selected the correct option. Regarding knowledge about nutrients, we obtained more than 50.0% of correct answers in most of the items. Starting these diets as supplementary food was discouraged by 58% of the participants. 79.8% expressed the intention to acquire more knowledge regarding the subject. Conclusions: more than half of the professionals have the correct knowledge about the correct planning and supplementation of vegetarian diets in children. They stressed the need to include vegetarian diets in pediatric food guidelines in Uruguay.

Introdução: nos últimos anos, o aumento das pessoas vegetarianas tem sido considerável. Deve-se ter cuidado ao incorporar esse tipo de dieta na população pediátrica. Ela não está incluída nas atuais diretrizes nacionais de nutrição, gerando incerteza nos pediatras no momento de fazer recomendações. Objetivo: descrever o conhecimento sobre dietas vegetarianas em crianças dos Pediatras e pós-graduados/residentes da Sociedade Uruguaia de Pediatria no período de junho a setembro de 2020 para poder determinar a necessidade de incorporar dietas vegetarianas às diretrizes nutricionais pediátricas uruguaias. Material e métodos: estudo observacional descritivo, tipo de pesquisa transversal realizada no período de junho a setembro de 2020. Os critérios de inclusão foram médicos residentes/pós-graduados em pediatria e pediatras da Sociedade Uruguaia de Pediatria, Montevidéu e interior do país. A fonte de dados foi uma pesquisa on-line anônima sobre a necessidade de incorporar dietas vegetarianas às diretrizes uruguaias para nutrição pediátrica. As análises dos dados foram frequências relativas e absolutas de variáveis qualitativas. Resultados: 1.080 pesquisas online foram enviadas e 119 foram incluídas. Quanto à autopercepção de conhecimento dos entrevistados, 58,0% foram avaliados dentro da faixa média. Quanto ao conceito de dieta lacto-ovo-vegetariana, 63,9% selecionaram a opção correta. Quanto ao conhecimento sobre nutrientes, obtivemos mais de 50,0% das respostas corretas na maioria dos itens. O início dessas dietas como alimentos suplementares foi desencorajado por 58% dos participantes. 79,8% expressaram a intenção de adquirir mais conhecimento sobre o assunto. Conclusões: mais da metade dos profissionais têm o conhecimento correto sobre o planejamento correto e suplementação de dietas vegetarianas em crianças. Eles enfatizaram a necessidade de incluir dietas vegetarianas nas diretrizes de alimentos pediátricos no Uruguai.

Better Adequacy of Food Intake According to Dietary Recommendations of National Cholesterol Education Program in Vegetarian Compared to Omnivorous Men

Abstract Background The lower frequency of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors observed in vegetarians compared to omnivores may be due to more appropriate nutrient intake according to recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Objective To compare the dietary adequacy according to the recommendations of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) in apparently healthy vegetarian (VEG) and omnivorous (OMN) men. Methods This was a cross-sectional study, conducted with apparently healthy men (44 omnivorous and 44 vegetarians, ≥ 35 years), who were assessed for daily food consumption, anthropometric data, physical exercise status, and clinical data. Multiple logistic regression was used to test the association between the type of diet and the dietary adequacy. Significant values were considered for p<0.05. Results Several clinical CV risk markers were significantly lower in VEG when compared to OMN: body mass index (BMI) (23.1 vs. 27.3 kg/m2), systolic blood pressure (119.5 vs. 129.2 mmHg), and diastolic blood pressure (75.7 vs. 83.9 mmHg). VEG presented significant lower values of blood lipids and glucose. No significant difference was observed in caloric intake; however, VEG consumed significantly more carbohydrates, dietary fibers, and polyunsaturated fats. VEG presented an adequate consumption of dietary cholesterol and saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, regardless of caloric intake and age. Conclusion VEG were more likely to consume saturated fatty acids, dietary cholesterol, and fibers according to the recommendations of NCEP, factors that may contribute to lower levels of CV risk markers than OMN.

Iron Deficiency in Vegetarian and Omnivorous Individuals: Analysis of 1340 Individuals.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of ferritin and the prevalence of iron deficiency in vegan and omnivorous individuals by taking into account the presence of elements that cause an elevation of ferritin levels, such as increased homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), body mass index (BMI), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) values. The parameters were evaluated in 1340 individuals, i.e., 422 men and 225 women who do not menstruate and 693 women who do menstruate, based on omnivorous or vegetarian eating habits. The progressive increase in BMI, HOMA-IR, and inflammation caused an elevation in ferritin concentration, regardless of the eating habits in the groups studied. In the overall sample, omnivores had a higher prevalence of obesity, higher ferritin levels, and a lower prevalence of iron deficiency (ferritin < 30 ng/mL). However, after the exclusion of individuals with inflammation (with overweight/obesity and elevated hs-CRP levels), the actual iron deficiency was assessed and was not higher among vegetarians, except in women with regular menstrual cycles. Our data show that nutritional status and inflammation levels affect ferritin levels and may interfere with the correct diagnosis of iron deficiency in both vegetarian and omnivorous individuals. Compared to vegetarians, women who do not menstruate and men had the same prevalence of iron deficiency when following an omnivorous diet.