Vegetarian and non‐vegetarian dietary patterns and nutrient profile differentials between the sexes and Blacks and Whites (130.7)

Abstract

Background: Dietary patterns are of great interest as they reflect choices of food combinations over time and may contribute to the development or prevention of disease.Objective: To compare nutrient intakes of diverse dietary patterns between races and sexes.Design: Cross‐sectional study of 71751 subjects (mean age 59 years, 65% women, 76% white) from the Adventist‐Health‐Study‐2. Data was collected between 2002 and 2007. Participants completed a 204‐item validated semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The dietary patterns compared are: non vegetarian, semi vegetarian, pesco vegetarian, lacto‐ovo vegetarian and strict vegetarian. ANCOVA was used to analyze differences in nutrient intakes by dietary patterns stratified by sex and race.Results: Nutrient intakes varied more strongly between dietary patterns than between the sexes or blacks and whites. Nutrient intakes were more dissimilar between blacks and whites than between the sexes. Blacks hada higher proportion of non vegetarians and pesco vegetarians. Supplement intakes were markedly higher in women than in men and higher in whites than in blacks. Blacks had lower intakes of nutrients often associated with dairy products and higher intakes of soy protein and marine fatty acids.Conclusions: Dietary patterns characterized by differences in meat and dairy consumption show marked differences in nutrient composition that can have health implications. Differences between the sexes and black and white subjects should be considered when interpreting demographic differences in nutritional studies.Grant Funding Source: Supported by National Institutes of Health Grant 1R01‐CA‐94594