The relationship between the motivation of health for being vegan and the intake of key nutrients and nutritional status in individuals following a vegan diet : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
Loading...
Date
2024
DOI
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Massey University
Rights
The author
Abstract
Background: The fundamental principle of veganism is to avoid all possible animal exploitation and therefore, animal ethics has always been a primary motivator. Nowadays, the environment and health are becoming increasingly common motivators for veganism. Omission of all animal products leads to dietary exclusion of vitamin B12, limited intake of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA, and intake of low bioavailable iron sources. It is unknown whether greater health motivation leads to enhanced intake and status of nutrients. Objectives: To describe the importance placed on three motivations for following a vegan diet, to investigate the role of health motivation on dietary intake of vitamin B12, iron and the nutritional status of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, and iron, as well as investigate the role of health motivation on use of vitamin B12, iron and omega-3 supplementation. Methods: This cross-sectional, observational study recruited participants, who had followed a vegan diet for minimum 2 years. Demographics were obtained from questionnaires. Motivation type was determined using the validated vegetarian eating motives inventory (VEMI) – participants scored the importance of animal ethic, environment and health. Dietary intakes of vitamin B12 and iron, were calculated from a 4-day food diary and assessed against Estimated Average Requirement (EAR). Blood samples were taken to determine status of vitamin B12, haemoglobin, serum ferritin, and omega-3 index. Results: The study was completed by 212 participants, of whom 73% were female, and the mean (SD) age was 39.43 years (12.41). Animal ethics was a very important motivator for 83.5% of participants, compared to the environment (71.7%), and health (53.3%). Participants motivated the greatest by health had significantly higher intake of iron (p = 0.032) and lower intake of vitamin B12 (p = 0.006) after adjusting for energy intake. No relationship was found between health motivation and omega-3 index. Participants used omega-3 fatty acid, iron and B12 supplementation regardless of level of health motivation. Mean haemoglobin serum concentration was adequate (154.31g.L), as was mean serum ferritin (41.62µg.L), and mean serum vitamin B12 (316.54pmol.L). The mean omega-3 index was 3.15%, with no participants having a cardioprotective score of >8%. Conclusion: The motivation of health appears to influence intake of iron and vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 status within normal range despite not meeting the EAR and limited vegan sources, indicates the use and importance of supplementation. Iron status shows large consumption of iron rich foods to overcome bioavailability issues. The omega-3 index reveals low cardioprotective omega-3 fatty acid intake.