Vegetarian, pescatarian and flexitarian diets: sociodemographic determinants and association with cardiovascular risk factors in a Swiss urban population

摘要

Prevalence and trends of different vegetarian diets remain unknown, with estimates varying depending on the source. Evidence suggests that vegetarian diets are associated with a more favourable cardiovascular risk profile. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and trends of different types of vegetarian diets in a population-based representative sample, sociodemographic characteristics of participants following such diets and the association of these diets with cardiovascular risk factors. Using repeated cross-sectional population-based surveys conducted in Geneva, Switzerland, 10 797 individuals participated in the study between 2005 and 2017. Participants were classified as vegetarians, pescatarians, flexitarians or omnivores using an FFQ. Sociodemographic and cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated through questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and blood tests. Findings show prevalence of vegetarians increased from 0 center dot 5 to 1 center dot 2 %, pescatarians from 0 center dot 3 to 1 center dot 1 % and flexitarians remained stable at 15 center dot 6 % of the population over the study period. Compared with omnivores, vegetarians were more likely to be young (OR 2 center dot 38; 95 % CI 1 center dot 01, 5 center dot 6), have higher education (OR 1 center dot 59; 95 % CI 1 center dot 01, 2 center dot 49) and lower income (OR 1 center dot 83; 95 % CI 1 center dot 04, 3 center dot 21); pescatarians and flexitarians were more likely to be women (pescatarian: OR 1 center dot 81; 95 % CI 1 center dot 10, 3 center dot 00; vegetarian: OR 1 center dot 57; 95 % CI 1 center dot 41, 1 center dot 75) and flexitarians were also more likely to have a lower income (OR 1 center dot 31; 95 % CI 1 center dot 13, 1 center dot 53). Participants who adhered to any diet excluding/reducing meat intake had lower BMI, total cholesterol and hypertension compared with omnivores. The present study shows an increase in the prevalence of vegetarians over a 13-year period and suggests that the different vegetarian diets assessed are associated with a better cardiovascular risk profile.