Vegetarians and vegans in the UK.A large study of meat-eaters, fish-eaters, vegetarians (use eggs and/or dairy products), and vegans in Europe is being conducted. More than 500,000 people are participating in this study. A recent report looked at around 65,000 subjects from the United Kingdom. Here are some of the findings: a) 38 percent of vegan women aged 40 and older had no children; 16 percent of meat-eating women over 40 had no children. b) Meat-eating women aged 50 and older were much more likely to have used hormone replacement therapy Hormone Replacement Therapy Definition Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the use of synthetic or natural female hormones to make up for the decline or lack of natural hormones produced in a woman's body. than vegan women. c) Vegans were the leanest of the four groups; fish-eaters and vegetarians were intermediate; and meat-eaters had the highest body mass index. Very few vegans were obese. d) Vegans had higher intakes of carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fats Polyunsaturated fats A non-animal oil or fatty acid rich in unsaturated chemical bonds not associated with the formation of cholesterol in the blood. Mentioned in: Cholesterol, High , and fiber and lower intakes of protein and saturated fats. Total fat intake was only slightly different among the groups and averaged 31 percent of total calories. e) Vegans had higher intakes of thiamin thiamin or vitamin B1 Organic compound, part of the vitamin B complex, necessary in carbohydrate metabolism. It carries out these functions in its active form, as a component of the coenzyme thiamin pyrophosphate. , folate folate /fo·late/ (fo´lat) 1. the anionic form of folic acid. 2. more generally, any of a group of substances containing a form of pteroic acid conjugated with l-glutamic acid and having a variety of substitutions. , vitamin C vitamin C or ascorbic acid Water-soluble organic compound important in animal metabolism. Most animals produce it in their bodies, but humans, other primates, and guinea pigs need it in the diet to prevent scurvy. , vitamin E, and iron and lower intakes of vitamin [B.sub.12], vitamin D, calcium, and zinc. Vitamin [B.sub.12] and calcium intake among vegans were below recommendations, although intakes may actually be a bit higher because some fortified fortified (fôrt  ´fīd),adj containing additives more potent than the principal ingredient. foods may not have been included in the analysis and supplements were not included. The subjects of this study will be followed for the next 10 years to see if diet affects risk of cancer and other conditions. Davey GK, Spencer EA, Appleby PN, et al. 2003. EPIC-Oxford: lifestyle characteristics and nutrient intakes in a cohort of 33,883 meat-eaters and 31,546 non meat-eaters in the UK. Public Health Nutr 6:259-68. |
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