FH Campus Wien University of Applied Sciences, Favoritenstrasse 226, 1100, Vienna, Austria.
Sci Rep. 2023 Mar 22;13(1):3983. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-30843-1.
The number of vegans is increasing and was estimated at 2.0% of the Austrian population. Austrian vegans were found to have lower intakes and levels of vitamin B12 compared to vegetarians and omnivores. Vegans are advised to consume reliable sources of vitamin B12, e.g., in the form of dietary supplements or fortified foods. This study aimed to investigate health and supplementation behavior, with special emphasis on the supplementation of vitamin B12, and to demographically characterize the community of Austrian adult vegans. A nonrandom, voluntary sample of adult vegans with a principal residence in Austria was recruited with an online cross-sectional survey via social media and messenger platforms. Associations between respondent characteristics (gender, education, nutritional advice by a dietitian or nutritionist) and health/supplementation behaviors were examined by cross-tabulation. The questionnaire was completed by 1565 vegans (completion rate 88%), of whom 86% were female, the median age was 29 years, 6% were obese, and 49% had completed an academic education. Ninety-two percent consumed vitamin B12 through supplements and/or fortified foods, and 76% had their vitamin B12 status checked. The prevalence of vitamin B12 intake through supplements and/or fortified foods was slightly (not statistically significant) higher among women vs. men (93% vs. 89%), those who were academically educated vs. those who were not (93% vs. 91%), and those who had taken nutritional advice vs. those who had not (97% vs. 92%). Professional nutritional advice had been taken by only 9.5% of female and 8.4% of male respondents. Those who had taken advice reported a lower smoking prevalence (p = 0.05, φ = 0.05), higher prevalence of checking vitamin B12 status (p < 0.01, φ = 0.10), vit B12 intake through supplements and/or fortified foods (p = 0.03, φ = 0.05), and taking supplements of omega-3 (p < 0.01, φ = 0.14), selenium (p = 0.02, φ = 0.06), and iodine (p = 0.02, φ = 0.06). Austrian vegans can be characterized as predominantly young, female, urban, highly educated, and nonobese. The rate of vitamin B12 intake through supplements and/or fortified foods is fairly high (92%), but should be further improved e.g., by increasing the share of vegans who follow professional nutritional advice (requiring a diploma in dietetics, nutritional science, or medicine in Austria).
素食者的人数正在增加，据估计占奥地利人口的 2.0%。与素食者和杂食者相比，奥地利素食者的维生素 B12 摄入量和水平较低。建议素食者摄入可靠的维生素 B12 来源，例如膳食补充剂或强化食品。本研究旨在调查健康和补充行为，特别强调维生素 B12 的补充，并对奥地利成年素食者群体进行人口统计学描述。通过社交媒体和信使平台，采用在线横断面调查，对奥地利成年素食者进行了非随机、自愿抽样。通过交叉表检查受访者特征（性别、教育程度、营养师或营养学家提供的营养建议）与健康/补充行为之间的关联。共有 1565 名素食者（完成率为 88%）完成了问卷，其中 86%为女性，中位数年龄为 29 岁，6%为肥胖，49%接受过学术教育。92%的人通过补充剂和/或强化食品摄入维生素 B12，76%的人检查过维生素 B12 水平。女性通过补充剂和/或强化食品摄入维生素 B12 的比例略高（无统计学意义），分别为 93%和 89%，接受过学术教育的人比未接受过学术教育的人略高（93%比 91%），接受过营养建议的人比未接受过营养建议的人略高（97%比 92%）。只有 9.5%的女性和 8.4%的男性受访者接受过专业营养建议。接受过建议的人吸烟率较低（p=0.05，φ=0.05），检查维生素 B12 水平的比例较高（p<0.01，φ=0.10），通过补充剂和/或强化食品摄入维生素 B12 的比例较高（p=0.03，φ=0.05），摄入补充剂的ω-3（p<0.01，φ=0.14）、硒（p=0.02，φ=0.06）和碘（p=0.02，φ=0.06）。奥地利素食者的特点是年轻、女性、城市、高学历和非肥胖。通过补充剂和/或强化食品摄入维生素 B12 的比例相当高（92%），但可以进一步提高，例如增加接受专业营养建议的素食者比例（在奥地利，需要获得营养学、营养科学或医学学位）。
