Body Composition, Nutritional and Cardiovascular Status and Lifestyle Factors of Adults Who Are on Plant-Based Diet

Overview

There is an objective lack of data on the body composition, nutritional status, cardiovascular status and lifestyle of adults on a plant-based diet (PBD). The aim in this cross-sectional study investigators will document the differences in the body composition, nutritional intake and general health status of healthy adults aged 18 to 80 years who are on plant-based diet of 0.5-10 years and to determine if their body composition status is associated to the duration of eating with PBD between the 3 groups: those that are 0.5-2 years (short-term), 2-5 years (medium-term) and 5-10 years (long-term) on PBD. This study will also include the monitoring of other factors of healthy and active lifestyle of PBD participants, namely the status of habitual and organized physical activity, the status of daily long-term seating, the status of stress and hygiene of sleep, socio-economic status and the motive(s)/reasons for starting PBD. Investigators will also record their maximum (lifetime) body weight, body weight upon entering the PBD lifestyle, and using data from participants, blood analysis to collect their basic biochemistry results, and data on current blood pressure status. The investigators hypothesis is that: (H1): There are no differences in nutritional status between people who are short- (0.5-2 years), the medium- (2-5 years) or the long-term (5-10 years) on PBD. (H2): At least 80% of the tested subjects have plasma lipid values and blood pressure within the reference values. (H3): There is difference in lipid profile and body composition between people who are short- and the medium but not between medium and long-term PBD.

In the study investigators will voluntarily enroll all participants within inclusion/exclusion criteria that are willing to participate in the study. Investigators will anticipate that for approx. 150-200 healthy adult PBD participants investigators will require approx. 2555 invited and interviewed candidates, of both sexes, aged 18-80 years, without restrictions on current body mass index (BMI) status, that are on PBD for 0.5-10 years and live a healthy and active lifestyle. The methods to be used are a medically approved bioimpedance body composition monitor (Tanita, 780 S MA, Tokyo, Japan), medically approved body weight scale and body height gauge (MPE 250K100HM), a 3-day dietary record (3-DR), one adopted by NIH: socio-demographic, economic status and motive for PBD questionnaire, and three standardized questionnaires: (1) habitual and organized physical activity, and the frequency of sitting (IPAQ-long), (2) stress (PSQ-30), and (3) quality of sleep (PSQI). Concerning 3-DR, the study participants will weight and record all foods, beverages consumed, as well as leftovers, and dietary supplements over three consecutive days (two weekdays and one weekend) using electronic kitchen scales. The study participants will choose the day of the beginning of dietary recording within a given period (i. e.: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, Friday, Saturday). When exact weighing will not be possible (e.g., in case of eating out), household measures (spoon, cup, glass, etc.) and a picture book with household measures in adults' portion sizes (photos of reference foods with their actual gram weight) (NIJZ, 2016), allowed semi-quantitative recording. For the evaluation of dietary intake, investigators will use dietary software, Open Platform for Clinical Nutrition (OPEN), which is a web-based application (http://opkp.si/) and has been developed by the Jozef Stefan Institute and supported by the EuroFIR AISBL (http://eurofir.org) and the European Federation of the Association of Dietitians (EFAD). Dietary software has been upgraded to 3-DR methodology. Food intake data (from 3-DR) will be used for assessment of energy, macro- and micronutrients intakes using OPEN. The energy and nutrient contents of commercial food or home prepared foods, will estimated by recipe simulation using labelled ingredients and nutrient contents. OPEN will be continuously updated by adding those products or recopies recorded by study participants on PBD. In order to assess the nutritional intake from dietary supplements, we will use Res-Pons d.o.o. services, which professionally manages the database with all dietary supplements products on the Slovenian market (Pretehtajte.si, 2018). Investigators will also record their maximum (lifetime) body weight, body weight upon entering the PBD lifestyle, and using data taken blood analysis to collect their basic biochemistry results, measured in a standard and comparable method (plasma lipids, uric acid and a hemogram), and data on current blood pressure status.