Micronutrient adequacy among youth adhering to vegan, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, pescatarian and omnivorous diets in Sweden

• Published in: Norsk tidsskrift for ernæring Vol. 22; no. 5
• Main Authors: Mulkerrins, Isabelle, Medin, Anine, Groufh-Jacobsen, Synne, Margerison, Claire, Larsson, Christel
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universitetsforlaget 14.06.2024
• Subjects: Plant based diets – Poster
• ISSN: 1503-5034; 2703-9609
• DOI: 10.18261/ntfe.22.5.146

Background and objectives: There is insufficient knowledge about the nutritional adequacy of Swedish youths’ current dietary intake, and whether it varies with the strictness of the diet when eating plant-based. Therefore, the objective was to assess the micronutrient adequacy of vegan, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, pescetarian and omnivorous diets among Swedish youth aged 16-to-24 years. Methods: Between December 2022 – January 2024, healthy youth from Gothenburg, Sweden, partook in a cross-sectional study (VeggiSkills-Sweden). Dietary intake data including supplements was obtained through four non-consecutive web-based 24-hour dietary recalls (24HDR). Two participants with only one 24HDR were excluded. Mean micronutrient intake with supplements was compared to average requirements (AR) from the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023. Micronutrient inadequacy was defined as ≥50% of the group with mean intakes below AR. To evaluate the proportion with inadequate micronutrient intake, cross-tabulation with Pearson’s Chi-square test was used. Results: A total of 234 participants (78% female, mean 21.5 years) comprising 60 vegans, 59 lacto-ovo-vegetarians, 54 pescatarians and 61 omnivores were included, whereof 99% completed four 24HDR. All groups had inadequate selenium intake, highest proportion among pescatarians (85.2%) and lowest among vegans (73.3%), p = 0.435. All groups except vegans had inadequate vitamin D intake, highest proportion among lacto-ovo-vegetarians (64.4%) and lowest among vegans (46.7%), p = 0.227. Moreover, inadequate potassium intake was found among pescatarians (55.6% below AR), with omnivores having the lowest proportion below AR (36.1%), p = 0.215. Among lacto-ovo-vegetarians inadequate vitamin B12 intake was found (52.5% below AR), with the lowest proportion found among omnivores (24.6% below AR), p = 0.003. Furthermore, 55% and 67% of vegans failed to meet AR of vitamin A and calcium, respectively, with pescatarians having the lowest proportion below AR (24.1% and 27.8%, respectively), p = ≤0,007. Multivitamin use in the past 6 months differed between groups, with highest usage among vegans compared to omnivores (63% vs 19%, p < 0,001). Discussion: Youth had adequate intake, regardless of diet, of most micronutrients except for selenium and vitamin D, and pescatarians, lacto-ovo-vegetarians and vegans showed deficiencies of potassium, vitamin B12 and vitamin A and calcium, respectively. Despite supplementation, plant-based diets may still fall short of critical micronutrients, raising concerns for long-term health, thus objective markers of nutritional status should be assessed.