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Nutrition Journal
Published in: Nutrition Journal 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research

Nutritional profile of Indian vegetarian diets – the Indian Migration Study (IMS)

Authors: Krithiga Shridhar, Preet Kaur Dhillon, Liza Bowen, Sanjay Kinra, Ankalmadugu Venkatsubbareddy Bharathi, Dorairaj Prabhakaran, Kolli Srinath Reddy, Shah Ebrahim

Published in: Nutrition Journal | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

The cardiovascular and other health benefits and potential harms of protein and micronutrient deficiency of vegetarian diets continue to be debated.

Methods

Study participants included urban migrants, their rural siblings and urban residents (n = 6555, mean age - 40.9 yrs) of the Indian Migration Study from Lucknow, Nagpur, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Information on diet (validated interviewer-administered semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire), tobacco, alcohol, physical activity, medical histories, as well as blood pressure, fasting blood and anthropometric measurements were collected. Nutrient databases were used to calculate nutrient content of regional recipes. Vegetarians ate no eggs, fish, poultry and meat. Using multivariate linear regression with robust standard error model, we compared the macro- and micro-nutrient profile of vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets.

Results

Vegetarians, (32.8% of the population), consumed greater amounts of legumes, vegetables, roots and tubers, dairy and sugar, while non-vegetarians had a greater intake of cereals, fruits, spices, salt (p < 0.01), fats and oils. Vegetarians had a higher socioeconomic status, and were less likely to smoke, drink alcohol (p < 0.0001) and engage in less physical activity (p = 0.04). On multivariate analysis, vegetarians consumed more carbohydrates (β = 7.0 g/day (95% CI: 9.9 to 4.0), p < 0.0001), vitamin C (β = 8.7 mg/day (95% CI: 4.3 to13.0), p < 0.0001) and folate (β = 8.0 mcg/day (95% CI: 3.3 to 12.7), p = 0.001) and lower levels of fat (β = −1.6 g/day (95% CI: −0.62 to −2.7), p = 0.002), protein (β = −6.4 g/day (95% CI: −5.8 to −7.0), p < 0.0001), vitamin B12 (β = −1.4 mcg/day (95% CI: −1.2 to −1.5), p < 0.0001) and zinc (β = −0.6 mg/day (95% CI: −0.4 to −0.7), p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Overall, Indian vegetarian diets were found to be adequate to sustain nutritional demands according to recommended dietary allowances with less fat. Lower vitamin B12 bio-availability remains a concern and requires exploration of acceptable dietary sources for vegetarians.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Nutritional profile of Indian vegetarian diets – the Indian Migration Study (IMS)
Authors
Krithiga Shridhar
Preet Kaur Dhillon
Liza Bowen
Sanjay Kinra
Ankalmadugu Venkatsubbareddy Bharathi
Dorairaj Prabhakaran
Kolli Srinath Reddy
Shah Ebrahim
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Nutrition Journal / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2891
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-13-55

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