ASSESSMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND WAY OF NUTRITION IN VEGETARIANS AND VEGANS

Abstract

Background. People following a vegetarian diet can obtain all the essential nutrients from a variety of foods. Among the nutrients, protein, iron, calcium, zinc, and vitamins B12 and D3 require special attention. Objective. To assess the knowledge of dietary recommendations among different groups of vegetarians and the diet they follow. Material and methods. The study involved a total of 390 subjects (360 women and 30 men), aged 18–60 years, who were following different vegetarian diets. The study was conducted in November 2020 via Facebook using the Computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) method. Participation in the study was voluntary and anonymous, and sample selection was intentional (participants were members of groups for vegetarians in Facebook). Statistical analysis was carried out using the Chi2 test, using Statistica 13.3 (at p=0.05). Results. To develop the results, the respondents were divided into 4 groups according to their diet: vegan, pescovegetarian, lactovegetarian, and people following other types of diets. The body mass index of nearly 2/3 of the respondents was within the normal range, and more than 80% of the respondents rated their health as good or very good. An analysis of the frequency of consumption of food products showed that, regardless of the type of vegetarian diet they followed, the participants adhered to the principles of proper nutrition. The respondents who rated their nutritional knowledge as very good were more likely to consume vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole-grain cereals, and rarely consumed sweet and salty snacks, alcoholic and energizing drinks, or fast food. Vegans more frequently consumed fruits, vegetables, legumes, vegetable fats, and vegetable substitutes for meat and dairy products compared to other vegetarians. In addition to plant products, pesco- and lactovegetarians included selected animal-derived products in their food rations, thus skillfully diversifying the diet. More than 80% of the vegetarians used dietary supplements, mainly vitamins D and B12. Conclusions. Regardless of the type of vegetarian diet followed, the participants seemed to be aware of how to balance their diet and the ingredients that should be supplemented, even though a vast majority of them did not consult a diet specialist.