Department of Human Biometry and Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
Nutr Metab (Lond). 2011 Jun 14;8(1):37. doi: 10.1186/1743-7075-8-37.
Epidemiological studies indicate that a well balanced vegetarian diet offers several health benefits including a lower prevalence of prosperity diseases in vegetarians compared to omnivores. It was the purpose of the present study to compare nutritional and physical characteristics in matched samples of institutionalized vegetarian (V) and non-vegetarian (NV) elderly.
Twenty-two female and 7 male V (females: 84.1 ± 5.1yrs, males: 80.5 ± 7.5yrs) and 23 female and 7 male NV (females: 84.3 ± 5.0yrs, males: 80.6 ± 7.3yrs) participated. All subjects were over 65 years of age, and free of major disease or physical handicap. Dietary intake, blood profile, anthropometrics, and handgrip strength were determined.
Mean daily energy intake was 6.8 ± 2.0MJ in V females, and 8.0 ± 1.4MJ in the NV females, only the V did not reach the recommended value of 7.8 MJ. Male V and NV had a mean daily energy intake of 8.7 ± 1.6MJ and 8.7 ± 1.2MJ respectively (RDI: 8.8 MJ). Mean carbohydrate intake was significantly below the RDI in NV only (female V: 47.8 ± 7.5E%, female NV: 43.3 ± 4.6E%, male V: 48.1 ± 6.4E%, male NV: 42.3 ± 3.6E%), while protein (female V: 17.3 ± 3.4E%, female NV: 19.5 ± 3.5E%, male V: 17.8 ± 3.4E%, male NV: 21.0 ± 2.0E%), and saturated fat intake (female V: 25.4 ± 8.2 g/day, female NV: 32.2 ± 6.9 g/day, male V: 31.4 ± 12.9 g/day, male NV: 33.4 ± 4.7 g/day) were too high in both V and NV. Mean micronutrient intakes met the RDI's in all 4 groups. Mean blood concentrations for vitamin B12, folic acid, iron, and calcium were normal in all 4 groups. Mean zinc blood serum was below the reference value in all groups, whereas estimated zinc intake was in agreement with the RDI. The mean blood cholesterol concentration was above the 200 mg/dl upper limit in the V group (213 ± 40 mg/dl) and below that limit in the NV (188 ± 33 mg/dl) group. Mean BMI was 26.1 ± 4.7 kg/m2 in the female V, 26.8 ± 3.7 kg/m2 in the female NV, 23.5 ± 3.7 kg/m2 in the male V, and 25.2 ± 4.2 kg/m2 in the male NV. V and NV scored below the reference values for the handgrip strength test.
Generally, our results show a similar profile for V and NV concerning dietary intake, blood values, and physical characteristics. Attention should be paid to the intake of mono- and disaccharides and saturated fats in the diet of both V and NV. This study indicates that a vegetarian lifestyle has no negative impact on the health status at older age.
流行病学研究表明，均衡的素食饮食对健康有益，素食者比杂食者更不易患富贵病。本研究的目的是比较机构化素食（V）和非素食（NV）老年人匹配样本中的营养和身体特征。
22 名女性和 7 名男性 V（女性：84.1±5.1 岁，男性：80.5±7.5 岁）和 23 名女性和 7 名男性 NV（女性：84.3±5.0 岁，男性：80.6±7.3 岁）参与了研究。所有受试者年龄均超过 65 岁，无重大疾病或身体残疾。确定了膳食摄入量、血液特征、人体测量和握力。
V 组女性的平均每日能量摄入量为 6.8±2.0MJ，NV 组女性为 8.0±1.4MJ，只有 V 组未达到 7.8MJ 的推荐值。V 和 NV 组男性的平均每日能量摄入量分别为 8.7±1.6MJ 和 8.7±1.2MJ（RDI：8.8MJ）。NV 组的碳水化合物摄入量明显低于 RDI（女性 V：47.8±7.5E%，女性 NV：43.3±4.6E%，男性 V：48.1±6.4E%，男性 NV：42.3±3.6E%），而蛋白质（女性 V：17.3±3.4E%，女性 NV：19.5±3.5E%，男性 V：17.8±3.4E%，男性 NV：21.0±2.0E%）和饱和脂肪摄入量（女性 V：25.4±8.2g/天，女性 NV：32.2±6.9g/天，男性 V：31.4±12.9g/天，男性 NV：33.4±4.7g/天）在 V 和 NV 两组中均过高。4 组的平均微量营养素摄入量均符合 RDI。4 组的维生素 B12、叶酸、铁和钙的血液浓度均正常。4 组的血清锌平均水平均低于参考值，而估计的锌摄入量与 RDI 相符。V 组的平均血胆固醇浓度高于 200mg/dl 的上限（213±40mg/dl），而 NV 组（188±33mg/dl）低于该上限。女性 V 的平均 BMI 为 26.1±4.7kg/m2，女性 NV 为 26.8±3.7kg/m2，男性 V 为 23.5±3.7kg/m2，男性 NV 为 25.2±4.2kg/m2。V 和 NV 的握力测试得分低于参考值。
总的来说，我们的研究结果表明，V 和 NV 在饮食摄入、血液值和身体特征方面具有相似的特征。应注意饮食中单糖和双糖以及饱和脂肪的摄入。本研究表明，素食生活方式对老年人的健康状况没有负面影响。
