Bedford Jennifer L, Barr Susan I
Human Nutrition, University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2005 Apr 13;2(1):4. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-2-4.
Few population-based studies of vegetarians have been published. Thus we compared self-reported vegetarians to non-vegetarians in a representative sample of British Columbia (BC) adults, weighted to reflect the BC population. METHODS: Questionnaires, 24-hr recalls and anthropometric measures were completed during in-person interviews with 1817 community-dwelling residents, 19-84 years, recruited using a population-based health registry. Vegetarian status was self-defined. ANOVA with age as a covariate was used to analyze continuous variables, and chi-square was used for categorical variables. Supplement intakes were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Approximately 6% (n = 106) stated that they were vegetarian, and most did not adhere rigidly to a flesh-free diet. Vegetarians were more likely female (71% vs. 49%), single, of low-income status, and tended to be younger. Female vegetarians had lower BMI than non-vegetarians (23.1 +/- 0.7 (mean +/- SE) vs. 25.7 +/- 0.2 kg/m2), and also had lower waist circumference (75.0 +/- 1.5 vs. 79.8 +/- 0.5 cm). Male vegetarians and non-vegetarians had similar BMI (25.9 +/- 0.8 vs. 26.7 +/- 0.2 kg/m2) and waist circumference (92.5 +/- 2.3 vs. 91.7 +/- 0.4 cm). Female vegetarians were more physically active (69% vs. 42% active >/=4/wk) while male vegetarians were more likely to use nutritive supplements (71% vs. 51%). Energy intakes were similar, but vegetarians reported higher % energy as carbohydrate (56% vs. 50%), and lower % protein (men only; 13% vs. 17%) or % fat (women only; 27% vs. 33%). Vegetarians had higher fiber, magnesium and potassium intakes. For several other nutrients, differences by vegetarian status differed by gender. The prevalence of inadequate magnesium intake (% below Estimated Average Requirement) was lower in vegetarians than non-vegetarians (15% vs. 34%). Female vegetarians also had a lower prevalence of inadequate thiamin, folate, vitamin B6 and C intakes. Vegetarians were more likely than non-vegetarians to consider various health conditions and food/nutrition concerns when choosing foods. CONCLUSION: In this population-based study, evidence was obtained to indicate that vegetarians appear more 'health conscious' than non-vegetarians, although specific differences were not always consistent by gender. Additional population-based studies are required to determine if the observed gender differences exist in other populations.
已发表的基于人群的素食者研究较少。因此，我们在不列颠哥伦比亚省（BC）成年人的代表性样本中，将自我报告的素食者与非素食者进行了比较，并进行加权以反映BC省的人口情况。
对使用基于人群的健康登记系统招募的1817名19 - 84岁社区居民进行了面对面访谈，期间完成了问卷调查、24小时饮食回顾和人体测量。素食状态由自我定义。以年龄作为协变量的方差分析用于分析连续变量，卡方检验用于分类变量。补充剂摄入量使用曼 - 惠特尼检验进行比较。
约6%（n = 106）的人表示自己是素食者，且大多数人并非严格坚持无肉饮食。素食者更可能为女性（71%对49%）、单身、低收入状态，且往往更年轻。女性素食者的体重指数（BMI）低于非素食者（23.1±0.7（均值±标准误）对25.7±0.2kg/m²），腰围也更低（75.0±1.5对79.8±0.5cm）。男性素食者和非素食者的BMI（25.9±0.8对26.7±0.2kg/m²）和腰围（92.5±2.3对91.7±0.4cm）相似。女性素食者身体活动更频繁（每周活动≥4次的比例为69%对42%），而男性素食者更可能使用营养补充剂（71%对51%）。能量摄入量相似，但素食者报告碳水化合物提供的能量百分比更高（56%对50%），蛋白质百分比更低（仅男性；13%对17%）或脂肪百分比更低（仅女性；27%对33%）。素食者的纤维、镁和钾摄入量更高。对于其他几种营养素，素食状态的差异因性别而异。素食者镁摄入不足（低于估计平均需求量的百分比）的患病率低于非素食者（15%对34%）。女性素食者硫胺素、叶酸、维生素B6和维生素C摄入不足患病率也更低。在选择食物时，素食者比非素食者更可能考虑各种健康状况以及食物/营养问题。
在这项基于人群的研究中，有证据表明素食者似乎比非素食者更“注重健康”，尽管特定差异并非总是在性别上保持一致。需要更多基于人群的研究来确定在其他人群中是否存在所观察到的性别差异。
