Abstract
The objective of this research is to study the nutritional status and the diet quality of vegetarians in two main cities of Benin, Cotonou and Porto-Novo in order to contribute to the improvement of their diet. Data were collected from 101 vegetarians selected by commodity in vegetarian restaurants. BMI, waist circumference, energy intake from macronutrient, micronutrient intakes, alcohol consumption, physical activity level, and blood levels of iron, calcium and albumin are the main variables. Analyses were set using SPSS and ALIMENTHEQUE software. Associations were tested using Fisher and Chi square tests. Inadequate nutritional status is obesity (6.93%), overweight (26.73%) and under nutrition (4.95%). People with a low daily fiber intake was higher among those with a BMI greater than 25 compared to those with a BMI less than 25 (82.3% vs 61.1% with p=0.03). As the diet becomes stricter, the prevalence of people with low daily vitamin B12 intakes significantly increases: presco/semi-vegetarians (8.23%), lacto-vegetarians (27.05%), vegans (52.94%) ovo-lacto-vegetarians (3.8%) p=0.04. In general, a lack of balance in macronutrient intake (only 18.81% of normal carbohydrate, fat and protein intake) was noted, leading to problems of obesity (abdominal obesity=23.7% Micronutrient intakes were low for the majority of subjects (vitamin B12=84.16%, zinc= 73.27%, calcium= 65.35%) except for iron (32.6%), with normal serum levels except for iron (deficiency=19.5%). Fiber intakes were also low for the majority (68.3%), which has a negative effect on BMI and therefore on nutritional status. The vegetarian diet in this context is therefore related to nutritional problems.
Highlights
In order to solve the problems of their time, human beings choose diets according to their religion, their environment and their beliefs
Vegetarianism would be associated in some people with a deleterious nutritional state with weight loss and/or deficiencies in micronutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium and protein [4]
The vegetarian diet is the subject of several scientific studies and mobilizes divergent opinions regarding its impact on nutritional status in several countries, especially those in the West
Summary
In order to solve the problems of their time, human beings choose diets according to their religion, their environment and their beliefs. Regardless of age, gender or country of origin, vegetarians are slimmer than omnivores and have a lower prevalence (less than 6%) of obesity [2] These benefits would be related to reduced consumption of potentially harmful dietary components such as saturated fat, cholesterol, animal protein, red meat, anthemion, and increased consumption of beneficial dietary components such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes rich in dietary fiber and antioxidants [3]. It has not yet been shown that it is the omission of meat per se that causes the positive effects of the diet, since vegetarians have a healthy lifestyle that includes the omission of harmful practices, smoking and alcohol consumption. It is essentially based on the following research question: "Is the vegetarian diet led in Benin harmful or favorable for the adherents of this dietary practice? "»
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