An investigation into the pragmatic diets of vegetarianism: The results of a pilot study

Derek Obersby^1*, Amalia Tsiami², David Chappell¹ and Andrew Dunnett³

¹University of West London, School of Psychology, Social Work and Human, Sciences, Paragon House, Boston Manor Road, London, TW8 9GA, UK

²University of West London, London School of Hospitality and Tourism, St Mary’s Road, Ealing, London W5 5RF, UK

³Glasgow Caledonian University, Fashion Street London, E1 6PX, UK.

Corresponding Author Email: dr.derek.obersby@btinternet.com

Published recommended various classifications of vegetarian diets are widespread across the globe, but few published articles if any report on the types of foods actually consumed by vegetarians in general. The primary objective was to elucidate this aspect of vegetarianism, analysis of food consumption over a fourteen day period, with respect to the various manifestations of vegetarianism, was undertaken in the form of a pilot study to indicate the contents of these diets as compared with recommended daily allowances (RDA) and adequate intake (AI) values.

Five lactovegetarians, twenty lactoovovegetarians and fourteen vegans, were recruited. The study included a detailed analysis of the vegetarian participants’ diet, through the compilation of an individual diet diary. Statistical analysis employing Microsoft Excel software was conducted to determine the outcome of the vegetarians’ diets, with each mean nutrient and mean dietary energy value compared against RDA and AI.

Analysis of the participants’ diet diaries indicated somewhat unexpectedly a failure to meet the RDA and AI for several important nutrients. Furthermore, the daily metabolizable energy level for all classifications of vegetarians was lower than the recommended AI for daily energy requirements.

Whilst it is generally accepted that vegetarianism can lead to a healthy lifestyle, the findings of this research indicate that vegetarianism participants may be at risk of deficiency of certain nutrients that could potentially lead to chronic medical conditions. The statistical findings obtained in the study will allow an accurate sample size to be calculated for each important item for future large definitive studies.

Dietary nutrient intake; Dietary energy intake; Nutrient deficiency; Recommended daily allowance

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