NUTRITIONAL STUDIES OF VEGETARIANS

Abstract

A comparative study of 112 vegetarian and 88 non-vegetarian adults, adolescents, and pregnant women is described. The results show that although the dietary intake of nutrients varied widely among individuals, the average intake of all groups, with the exception of the adolescent “pure” vegetarian, approximated or exceeded the amounts recommended by the National Research Council. Non-vegetarian adolescents consumed significantly more protein than did lacto-ovo-vegetarian and “pure” vegetarian adolescents. No evidence was obtained to indicate that a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet failed to provide an adequate dietary for an expectant mother. In general, measurements of height, weight, and blood pressures of these groups showed no significant differences. However, the “pure” vegetarians weighed appreciably less, an average of 20 pounds. Preconception and post partum weight gains and losses of the pregnant women were similar, as were the average birth weights of infants among the lacto-ovo-vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The total protein, albumin, and globulin values, and the hematological findings for all the vegetarian and non-vegetarian groups were not statistically different.