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The ‘Bad’ is often described as more influential than the ‘Good’. We examined this possibility for relationships between well-being and feedback from others about their diets among vegetarians, and we found that the ‘Good’ was stronger than the ‘Bad’. Participants were 982 vegetarians who completed measures of well-being (depression, anxiety, satisfaction with life, purpose and search for meaning in life, self-esteem, and loneliness). They also answered questions about the approval and disapproval they perceived they received because of their diets from friends, family members, and strangers. Each measure of well-being was regressed onto measures of perceived approval and perceived disapproval, separately for each source. The analyses found that for feedback from all three sources, well-being was related to perceived approval more consistently than it was related to perceived disapproval. Approval may influence well-being more than disapproval does, at least within the context we studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This pilot study aimed to assess the impact of substituting a traditional lunch for a vegetarian legume‐based meal on blood and anthropometric parameters in a group of omnivorous adults. A one‐group comparison, quasi‐experimental dietary intervention was designed. A vegetarian legume‐based meal was offered for 8 consecutive weeks (weekdays) to non‐vegetarian individuals (n = 26), (28 years [P25 = 20.0, P75 = 35.5]; 21.9 kg/m2 [P25 = 21.3, P75 = 24.8]). Sociodemographic data, health status and lifestyle‐related information were recorded. Three‐day food records were used to collect food intake at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Anthropometric parameters were recorded and fasting blood analyses were performed following standard procedures. Wilcoxon signed‐rank test was used for statistical comparisons. A p‐value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Participants showed a median intake of 79.8 g of cooked legumes per meal, meaning 13 (50.0%) subjects met the Portuguese daily legume intake recommendations during the intervention days. There were no statistically significant differences in anthropometric parameters. Transferrin concentration increased after 8 weeks (+12.5 mg/dL; p = 0.001). Total cholesterol concentration reduced after 8 weeks (−6 mg/dL; p = 0.041), as well as low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (−7 mg/dL; p = 0.003). Triglycerides (+9 mg/dL; p = 0.046), fasting glucose (+2 mg/dL; p = 0.037) and HbA1c (+0.1 mg/dL; p = 0.010) concentration increased after the 2‐month legume‐based trial. Results suggest a cholesterol‐lowering potential of legume‐rich diets. However, unfavourable results regarding the impact on glucose metabolism‐related biomarkers and triglyceride levels were observed. The study's limitations in design and sample size emphasise the importance of conducting further research with larger cohorts to attain more conclusive findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The potential benefits of vegetarian diets in reducing cognitive impairment have garnered attention due to existing mixed results; hence, our study aims to examine the impact of vegetarianism on cognitive function and neuropsychological status among urban community-dwelling adults from Telangana. Methods: The dietary patterns were self-reported and dietary data collected using a Food Frequency Questionnaire while cognitive function was assessed using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21) questionnaire for psychological measures. Adults (N = 304) aged 40 years and above, who followed either a vegetarian or non-vegetarian diet for at least 6 months prior to data collection, scored MMSE ≥ 19 indicating mild cognitive impairment, and were recruited using convenience sampling. Results: Among the participants, vegetarians (n = 155) exhibited significantly better mood states compared to non-vegetarians (n = 149), as indicated by lower scores on the DASS subscales for depression (10.0 ± 0.06 vs. 17.0 ± 0.07, p = < 0.001), anxiety (4.0 ± 0.05 vs. 6.0 ± 0.07, p = 0.005), and stress (8.0 ± 0.02 vs. 10.0 ± 0.05, p = 0.007). Vegetarians also demonstrated superior cognitive functioning compared to non-vegetarians, as indicated by higher MMSE scores (26.0 ± 0.04 vs. 24.0 ± 0.03, p = < 0.001). MMSE scores were inversely correlated with depression, anxiety, and stress for vegetarians (ρ = − 0.371, p = 0.000; ρ = − 0.027, p = 0.734; and ρ = − 0.105, p = 0.914), respectively. Similar to the vegetarians group, MMSE scores were negatively correlated with depression (ρ = − 0.059), but the correlation is not significant. Conclusion: Vegetarianism exerted a positive influence on the cognitive and neuropsychological status of the investigated population. Nevertheless, additional research is required to comprehend the underlying mechanisms that elucidate the long-term effects of vegetarianism and plant-based nutritional interventions on brain health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This research examines differential responses to ethical vegetarian appeals as a fuction of individuals' personalities. Background: Ethical vegetarian appeals are persuasive messages promoting the adoption of a plant‐based diet on moral grounds. Individuals may vary in their receptivity to such appeals, depending on their morally relevant traits (e.g., agreeableness), beliefs (e.g., speciesism), and motives (e.g., concerns about animal welfare). Methods: We explored (Study 1, N = 907) and then attempted to confirm (Study 2, N = 980) differential responses to three vegetarian appeals—two highlighting moral concerns (animal welfare, the environment) and a third focusing on individual health (control condition). Results: Both studies revealed several differential effects of our vegetarian appeals on the perceived effectiveness of the appeal and resultant intentions to reduce meat consumption. These mostly consisted of differences in receptivity to appeals focused on animal welfare. However, only one such effect observed in Study 1 was clearly replicated in Study 2: People who more strongly believed that eating meat was "normal" rated the vegetarian appeals focused on animal welfare as less effective. Conclusion: Ethical vegetarian appeals may elicit different responses from different people, particularly those focused on animal welfare, depending on how normative one believes meat‐eating to be. Such insights can inform behavior change efforts in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines feminist-vegetarian incidents in Daphne du Maurier's short stories "The Chamois" and "The Blue Lenses." It explores the treatment of animals in "The Chamois" which reveals the link between male violence and sexual dynamics between men and women, the interconnected oppression of women and birds, and commodification of female animal's fertility. It discusses the scenes of female food rejection and the interconnected victimhood of women and animals in "The Blue Lenses."

Background: Studies on the association between vegetarian diets and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are limited and have inconsistent results. This study aims to explore the association between vegetarian diets and NAFLD and compare the stage of fibrosis between vegetarians and nonvegetarians in a US representative sample. Methods: Cross‐sectional data from 23,130 participants aged ≥20 years were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005–2018. Vegetarian status was classified based on two 24‐h dietary recalls. We examined the association between vegetarian diets and the risk of NAFLD using the propensity score weighting method. Results: Vegetarian diets were significantly associated with decreases in hepatic steatosis index (HSI), US fatty liver index and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score with mean differences of −2.70 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −3.69, −1.70), −3.03 (95% CI: −7.15, −0.91) and −0.12 (95% CI: −0.26, −0.01), respectively. While modelling the risk of NAFLD, we estimated that vegetarians were 53% less likely to have NAFLD assessed by HSI (odds ratios [OR]: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.65). The effect of vegetarian diets was higher among individuals with lower waist circumferences (OR: 0.20) than among those with higher waist circumferences (OR: 0.53, pinteraction ${p}_{\text{interaction}}\,$= 0.004). However, the association was largely attenuated after adjusting for body mass index and diabetes status. No significant association was identified between vegetarian diets and advanced fibrosis. Conclusions: Vegetarian diets were associated with a lower prevalence of NAFLD among US adults, and the association appeared to be stronger in people with lower waist circumferences. Further studies are warranted to replicate our findings. Key points: Vegetarians had low risks of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development.A stronger association was observed among people with lower waist circumferences.Vegetarians were observed to have lower degrees of fibrosis among people with NAFLD.Future nutritional interventions may prioritise a low‐inflammatory dietary plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A curated reprint of two short pieces by Bernard Shaw that appeared in The Academy, the first on 15 October 1898 and the second on 12 November 1898. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Substantial evidence supports the inverse association between adherence to healthy dietary patterns and frailty risk. However, the role of plant-based diets, particularly their quality, is poorly known. Objective To examine the association of two plant-based diets with incidence of physical frailty in middle-aged and older adults. Design Prospective cohort. Setting United Kingdom Subjects 24,996 individuals aged 40–70 years, followed from 2009–12 to 2019–22. Methods Based on at least two 24-h diet assessments, we built two diet indices: (i) the healthful Plant-based Diet Index (hPDI) and (ii) the unhealthful Plant-based Diet Index (uPDI). Incident frailty was defined as developing ≥3 out of 5 of the Fried criteria. We used Cox models to estimate relative risks (RR), and their 95% confidence interval (CI), of incident frailty adjusted for the main potential confounders. Results After a median follow-up of 6.72 years, 428 cases of frailty were ascertained. The RR (95% CI) of frailty was 0.62 (0.48–0.80) for the highest versus lowest tertile of the hPDI and 1.61 (1.26–2.05) for the uPDI. The consumption of healthy plant foods was associated with lower frailty risk (RR per serving 0.93 (0.90–0.96)). The hPDI was directly, and the uPDI inversely, associated with higher risk of low physical activity, slow walking speed and weak hand grip, and the uPDI with higher risk of exhaustion. Conclusions In British middle-age and older adults, greater adherence to the hPDI was associated with lower risk of frailty, whereas greater adherence to the uPDI was associated with higher risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meat consumption needs to be reduced to limit climate change but achieving this requires understanding the drivers of meat consumption. In this study, we investigated two potential drivers—a contextual threat to masculinity and the stable individual difference of masculine ideology—and how they predict meat-eating intentions, attitudes, and environmentalism. Employing a sample of 375 Australian men, a population known for its high meat consumption, we did not find support that a contextual threat to men's masculinity increased pro-meat attitudes or intentions. Instead, we found that prevailing views about masculine ideology significantly predicted meat-related attitudes and intentions, with avoidance of femininity associated with lower avoidance of meat and lower intentions to eat clean meat, and the endorsement of male dominance tied to lower pro-environmental responding. Our findings suggest that situational threats to masculinity may not robustly affect meat consumption intentions and highlight the importance of more stable individual differences in the conception of the male gender identity in maintaining men's high meat consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The increasing world population generates a huge volume of food waste. The use of black soldier fly larvae in the bioconversion of food waste is a new approach and an interesting example of a sustainable, circular economy approach. In this study, different food waste and residues (ranging from a vegetable to a carnivorous diet) were used as rearing substrates for black soldier fly larvae. The effects of different substrates on larvae development, bioconversion efficiency, and variations in surface temperatures were investigated. The results highlighted how an omnivorous diet provides performances comparable to the high-quality substrate diet (commercial chicken feed) and, therefore, can represent an effective strategy for rearing larvae while reducing food waste. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) can utilize food by-products or residues for growth, benefiting farm animal's diets' production sustainability. The experiment aimed to assess the effect of different substrate compositions on larval growth, chemical composition, and substrate temperature. BSFL were allocated to one of the four diets (control, vegetable, carnivorous, and omnivorous) for the entire experiment (8 days). The temperature was measured twice daily using a thermal-imaging camera, and the accumulated degree hours (ADH) was calculated. The results showed that the larvae fed the vegetable diet exhibited a significantly reduced growth performance, with a biomass reduction of 26.3% compared to the control diet; furthermore, vegetable-fed larvae showed a lower dry matter content (−30% compared to the average of other diets) due to lower fat content (−65% compared to average of other diets). The nutritional composition of larvae fed an omnivorous diet was similar to larvae fed a high-quality substrate diet (control diet-chicken feed), indicating that the omnivorous diet could be an ideal solution for rearing BSFL larvae; however, the current European legislation prohibits the use of animal meal. The study also revealed that substrate temperatures did not have a discernible influence on larval growth, further emphasizing the importance of diet in BSFL rearing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay plays out a few ethics reasons we have to reconsider what’s really being marketed to us in some free offers that distract us from questions of ethical, cultural, and clinical importance, for example. Possible points of focus for bioethics as a field are related to antimicrobial resistance and stewardship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to rising popularity of vegetarianism in recent years, research interest has surged in examining the relationship between vegetarianism and psychological health. However, given inconsistent findings in prior research, the answer to whether practicing vegetarianism is associated with better or worse psychological health is still elusive. The present investigation aimed to demonstrate that vegetarians are not homogeneous in terms of psychological experiences, such that it is crucial to consider the motives behind vegetarians' dietary choice when examining their psychological health. In a survey study with 266 vegetarians and 104 omnivores, it was shown that health vegetarians displayed higher levels of disordered eating as compared to moral vegetarians and omnivores. Mediation analyses further revealed that, among vegetarians, health motivation was positively correlated with disordered eating tendencies, indirectly linking it with poorer psychological health; moral motivation was positively correlated with prosocial behavior, which in turn predicted better psychological health. These findings have implications for understanding the psychological health of vegetarians with different dietary motives and for developing interventions to promote their psychological health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing animal product consumption has benefits for population health and the environment. The relationship between vegetarianism and mental health, however, remains poorly understood. This study explores this relationship in a nationally representative cohort in Great Britain. We use data from the 1970 British Cohort Study, which collected information on vegetarianism at age 30 in 2000 (n = 11,204) and psychological distress (PD) at ages 26, 30, 34, 42, and 46–48 in 2016/18. We first developed a statistical adjustment strategy by regressing PD at age 30 on vegetarianism and 14 confounders measured at ages 10 and 26. We then ran multilevel growth curve models, testing whether within-person changes in PD between ages 30 and 46–48 differed by vegetarianism, before and after statistical adjustment. At age 30, 4.5 % of participants reported being vegetarian. In the cross-sectional models at age 30, vegetarians reported more distress compared with non-vegetarians in bivariate analysis (b = 0.30, 95%CI 0.09, 0.52), but this difference disappeared in the fully-adjusted model (b = 0.02, 95%CI −0.17, 0.21). In the longitudinal models between ages 30 and 46/48, there were no differences in within-person changes in psychological distress between vegetarians and non-vegetarians (p =.723). Sensitivity analyses using red meat consumption yielded similar findings. In this British cohort, vegetarianism at age 30 was not associated with changes in psychological distress during mid-adulthood. Since psychological distress in early adulthood predicted vegetarianism at age 30, more studies are needed to disentangle the progression of this relationship over the life-course. • Most studies on vegetarianism and mental health are methodologically weak. • Vegetarianism at age 30 was not associated with subsequent changes in psychological distress in the 1970 British Cohort Study. • Vegetarianism and mental health may still be related during the transition to aduthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research indicates that the same ingroup–outgroup disposition responsible for the psychological representation of human–human relations can be applied to human–animal relations. This work aimed to study the differences between general attitudes toward animals and specific attitudes toward different animal categories (pets, pests, and profitable animals) and explore whether those differences vary by people's diet and gender. A mixed-design ANOVA was performed on a sample of 285 participants. The results showed that vegetarians/vegans scored more positively in general and specific attitudes toward animals than omnivores, except when evaluating pets. Female and male participants evaluated animals in general, and pets, similarly. Furthermore, vegetarians/vegans had fewer differences in their scores among the different attitudinal objects in comparison with omnivores. The findings of this study show that general attitudes toward animals differ from attitudes toward specific types of animal and that they vary according to dietary choice and gender. Therefore, for future research in human–animal interaction, we recommend measuring attitudes toward specific types of animal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica vegetables are widely consumed all over the world, especially in North America, Asia, and Europe. They are a rich source of sulfur compounds, such as glucosinolates (GLSs) and isothiocyanates (ITCs), which provide health benefits but are also suspected of having a goitrogenic effect. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review to assess the impact of dietary interventions on thyroid function, in terms of the potential risk for people with thyroid dysfunctions. We analyzed the results of 123 articles of in vitro, animal, and human studies, describing the impact of brassica plants and extracts on thyroid mass and histology, blood levels of TSH, T3, T4, iodine uptake, and the effect on thyroid cancer cells. We also presented the mechanisms of the goitrogenic potential of GLSs and ITCs, the limitations of the studies included, as well as further research directions. The vast majority of the results cast doubt on previous assumptions claiming that brassica plants have antithyroid effects in humans. Instead, they indicate that including brassica vegetables in the daily diet, particularly when accompanied by adequate iodine intake, poses no adverse effects on thyroid function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decades, low vitamin B12 status has been reported in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Metformin, the first-line therapy for lowering blood glucose, is the main driving factor behind this association. Although the relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency and metformin is well established, results of studies on the exact effect of the dose and duration of the therapy remain inconsistent. Additionally, a lack of consensus on the definition of vitamin B12 deficiency adds to the conflicting literature. The objectives of this review were to analyze and synthesize the findings on the effects of metformin dose and duration on vitamin B12 status in patients with T2DM and to outline the potential mechanisms underlying metformin's effect on vitamin B12. Metformin therapy has adversely affected serum vitamin B12 concentrations, a marker of vitamin B12 status. The metformin usage index (a composite score of metformin dose and duration) might serve as a potential risk assessment tool for vitamin B12 screening in patients with T2DM. Considering the health implications of suboptimal vitamin B12 status, vitamin B12 concentrations should be monitored periodically in high-risk patients, such as vegans who are receiving metformin therapy for T2DM. Additionally, it is prudent to implement lifestyle strategies concurrent with metformin therapy in individuals with T2DM, promoting an overall synergistic effect on their glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a revised version of negative utilitarianism. Previous versions have relied on a hedonistic theory of value and stated that suffering should be minimized. The traditional rebuttal is that the doctrine in this form morally requires us to end all sentient life. To avoid this, a need-based theory of value is introduced. The frustration of the needs not to suffer and not to have one's autonomy dwarfed should, prima facie , be decreased. When decreasing the need frustration of some would increase the need frustration of others, the case is deferred and a fuller ethical analysis is conducted. The author's perceptions on murder, extinction, the right to die, antinatalism, veganism, and abortion are used to reach a reflective equilibrium. The new theory is then applied to consumerism, material growth, and power relations. The main finding is that the burden of proof should be on those who promote the status quo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes are at high risk for developing multiple chronic complications. However, there is a lack of studies of the cumulative number of diabetic complications in China. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed from 2009 to 2021. Type 2 diabetes patients who were first diagnosed after the age of 35 years between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2017, were included. Five states were defined according to the number of chronic complications: no (S0), one (S1), two (S2), three (S3), and four or more complications (S4). A multi-state Markov model was constructed to estimate transition probability, transition intensity, mean sojourn time, and the possible factors for each state. Results: The study included 32653 type 2 diabetes patients (mean age, 59.59 years; 15929 (48.8%) male), and mean follow-up time of 7.75 years. In all, 4375 transitions were observed. The 12-year transition probability of from state S0 to S1 was the lowest at 16.4%, while that from S2 to S3 was the highest, at 45.6%. Higher fasting blood glucose, lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, higher total cholesterol, and an unhealthy diet were associated with higher risk of progression from S0 to S1. Being female, less than 60 years old, weekly physical activity, and vegetarian diet decreased this risk. Being female and less than 60 years old reduced the likelihood of transition from S1 to S2, whereas lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased this likelihood. Conclusions: Following the occurrence of two complications in type 2 diabetes patients, the risk for accumulating a third complication within a short time is significantly increased. It is important to take advantage of the stable window period when patients have fewer than two complications, strengthen the monitoring of blood glucose and blood lipids, and encourage patients to maintain good living habits to prevent further deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adherence to a nutrient-dense diet can have an impact on depression and other mental health issues. Little is known whether this is attributed to some or all components and how these differ in a country that is known to have a vast diversity of nutrient-dense foods. The aim was to examine whether there is a relationship between individual food groups with depression and other mental health disorders. Data was from 89,955 Brazilians from the National Health Survey. Mental health and diet were accessed using a screener questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were calculated. Persons living with depression had significantly lower diet scores for vegetables/fruits (β = −0.08, 95 % CI -0.13, −0.02), grains/roots (β = -0.05; 95%CI (−0.07, −0.03)), beans (β = -0.03; 95%CI (−0.04, −0.01)) and higher scores for sweetened beverages (β = 0.04; 95%CI (0.01, 0.07)), sweets and sugars (β = 0.03; 95%CI (0.01, 0.05) and high fat/sodium products (β = 0.04; 9%CI (0.01, 0.07). Individuals living with other mental disorders showed lower scores for grains/roots (β = -0.03; 95%CI (−0.06, −0.01)) and higher scores for sweets and sugars (β = 0.06; 95%CI (0.03, 0.09)) and high fat/sodium products (β = 0.05; 95%CI (0.01, 0.09)). People with mental health disorders are more likely to have an unhealthy diet. Relationships were slightly stronger with depression in particular food groups as other mental disorders. Further studies are needed to help in the prevention of these disorders. • The prevalence of depression was almost 10% among Brazilians ≥ 15 years old. • Other mental health disorders had a prevalence of 5.41%. • Increased in sugars/sweets and fats/sodium were found in depressed and individuals living with other mental health. • Decreased intake of fruits/veggies, beans, and grains/roots was found only in depressed individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to evaluate the combined effects of a vegetarian diet (VD) and exercise on total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) parameters. A literature search was conducted in electronic databases from build to February 27, 2022. Data were synthesized using random effects model and were expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD)/weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Overall, 27 trials with 9,251 participants were included. Pooled results indicated that the combination of a VD and exercise significantly reduced TC (SMD: −0.524; 95% CI: −0.602, −0.446; p < 0.001), LDL-C (SMD: −0.379; 95% CI: −0.471, −0.287; p < 0.001), HDL-C (SMD: −0.213; 95% CI: −0.299, −0.126; p < 0.001), TG (SMD: −0.090; 95% CI: −0.160, −0.020; p = 0.012), SBP (WMD: −7.664 mm Hg; 95% CI: −9.219, −6.109 mm Hg; p < 0.001), and DBP (WMD: −4.347 mm Hg; 95% CI: −5.099, −3.596 mm Hg; p < 0.001). These parameters were reduced more following a low-fat VD, or a mixed high-frequency exercise, especially under strict supervision. Surprisingly, the decreased HDL-C due to VD was observed to recover with the prolongation of exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Today, raw vegetarianism is considered one of the most important socio-cultural developments in contemporary societies. In this regard, the present study was conducted to describe the perceived experience of people adhering to a vegan diet through a phenomenological perspective. Methods: This qualitative study explores the perceived experiences of individuals who follow a vegan diet and are part of the self-care campaign in Kermanshah, Iran. sampling was purposeful and face-to-face interviews were conducted with 12 individuals who follow a vegan lifestyle. The data were analyzed after being collected using the seven steps of Collizi. MAXQUDA software (version 12) was used for data management. Results: After qualitative data analysis, we identified 567 codes, which were categorized into 15 sub-themes. From these sub-themes, we derived 4 main themes. The main themes include: In pursuit of redemption (Meaningful framework, In awareness path, Unequaled Disappointment, Chronic and complex conditions), Seeking the New World (Starting with doubt and hesitation, The temptation to return, Constant criticism, Unfamiliar appearance), On the path of overcoming difficulties (Associate problems, Matching the new way, Perceived recommendations), and attaining the expected outcomes (Healthy lifestyle, Therapeutic feedback, Enhancing emotional wellbeing, Feeling of youth). Conclusion: Based on the participants’ experience, despite the challenging journey, the people with a vegetarian diet experienced partial and complete improvement of all the symptoms of the diseases. They had a healthy lifestyle and felt young and energetic. Likewise, this method had a positive effect on people’s mental state and mood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People often think that phenomenal consciousness is unique to humans and animals, but panpsychism extends it to other beings, considering consciousness as fundamental and ubiquitous in the natural world. This extension claim, which is shared by all panpsychists, carries ethical implications. Panpsychists vary in their views of the scope of extending consciousness. Micropsychism extends consciousness all the way down to fundamental particles at the micro-level, while macropsychism extends it to the cosmos and all physical objects in the universe. While micropsychism suggests that fundamental particles have moral status and significant moral standing, this truth does not necessarily translate into practical moral consequences, nor does it require us to change our behavior towards them. On the other hand, macropsychism implies that the universe holds moral status and significant moral standing. Advocates of this view argue that we should act in a way that maximizes pleasure and minimizes pain for all beings in which we can discern the causes of pleasure and pain. Additionally, macropsychism requires recognizing the moral status and significant moral standing of all animate and inanimate entities. We should therefore behave in such a way that enhances the pleasure and alleviates the suffering of animals and plants, although we do not have any moral obligation regarding inanimate beings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Diet-related diseases are advancing as the leading cause of death globally. As self-reporting of diet by patients can be associated with errors, stable isotopes of human tissues can be used to diagnose diseases, understand physiology, and detect change in diet. This study investigates the effect of type and amount of food on the nitrogen and carbon concentration (Nconc and Cconc) and isotopic composition (δ15N and δ13C) in human scalp hair and fingernails. Methods: A total of 100 residents participated in the study whereas only 74 individuals provided complete diet history. Sixty-six food items majorly available to them were also collected. The Nconc, Cconc, δ15N and δ13C values of human hair, nails and food items were determined. Results: The Nconc, Cconc, δ15N and δ13C values between plant-sourced and animal-sourced food items, as well as human hair and nail tissue were significantly different (p < 0.05). The δ15N value of human tissues was distinct between lacto-vegetarians and omnivores by 0.9‰. The δ15N and δ13C values of human tissues increased by 0.4–0.5‰ with every 5% increase in the consumption of animal protein. Conclusions: The study helps to demarcate lacto-vegetarians from omnivores, and estimate the percentage of animal protein in diet based on the dual isotope values of human tissues. It also acts as a reference to determine isotopic composition of hair tissue provided the isotope value of nail tissue is known and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The number of vegetarians and vegans has been growing worldwide, increasing the food choices available to this public in the market. One way to recognise these products is the presence of a certification label, which guarantees, or should guarantee, the absence of animal ingredients. Despite the growing demand and supply of certified vegan foods, there is no overview on the nutritional composition of these products in Brazil. Thus, a survey was conducted to evaluate the labels of ninety‐five certified vegan products from the groups: breads, cookies and crackers, meat substitutes and dairy substitutes. Carbohydrates were the most present macronutrient in all food groups, except for plant‐based beverages. Protein was highest in meat substitutes, while saturated fat was highest in cheese and cookies/crackers substitutes. Sodium was found in higher amounts in the meat substitutes, reaching a maximum value of 510.64 mg/100 g. Breads and cookies/crackers presented twenty and sixteen different types of flours, respectively. Refined wheat flour was the most present (48%) in bread, and refined rice flour (96%) in cookies/crackers. None of the cookies/crackers contained wheat flour. In meat substitutes, the main protein sources were soy, lentil, and chickpea, with a wide variety of spices and natural ingredients (n = 49). Most of the plant‐based beverages (60%) had no added sugar, however, all of the yogurt substitutes contained sugar or sweetener. Additives were present in 92% of breads, 100% of cookies/crackers, 33% of meat substitutes, and 70% of dairy substitutes. Eighty‐one percent of the products were classified as ultra‐processed. As conclusion, there is a great variety of ingredients used in the products, emphasising the need to read and understand the label when choosing a food. Furthermore, the results indicate the commercialisation of more 'natural' products, given the variety of fresh and dried foods among the ingredients. However, there should be caution in the consumption of certified foods due to the high percentage of ultra‐processed products, with elevated presence of additives and high sodium content. In addition, they should not be used as simple substitutes for conventional foods, due to their nutritional composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We present the first published case of large foreign body reaction to Biodesign (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN), an acellular otologic graft matrix derived from porcine small intestinal submucosa, after use in tympanoplasty surgery in a patient without previous exposure to meat products. Methods: A single case report of a 39-year-old female who developed tinnitus, ear drainage, and large fibrotic mass in external auditory canal and extending into middle ear after Type I medial graft tympanoplasty with Biodesign Graft. Left endoscopic microdissection and resection of the tympanic membrane and middle ear fibrotic mass were performed. Main findings: Surgical excision of the fibrous mass required extensive microdissection to ensure preservation of the ossicles and chorda tympani. Postoperatively, hearing improved and otalgia and otorrhea resolved. Conclusions: We report the first case of post-tympanoplasty reaction with the use of Biodesign acellular porcine graft in a patient with no previous known exposure to meat products. Although this presentation appears to be rare, it reinforces the need for careful patient selection and counseling around the use of porcine or other foreign grafts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can moral appeals motivate individuals to choose less carbon-intensive diets? In a survey-embedded forced-choice conjoint experiment involving 1520 US respondents, we asked participants to compare two menus across six dimensions: (1) burger/sandwich patty type and its corresponding carbon footprint value, (2) calories, (3) protein, (4) price, (5) ingredient origin, and (6) farming method. Within each menu, the values for these dimensions varied randomly. Further, respondents were randomly assigned to three frames: a reference frame that highlighted the scientific rationale for pro-climate action, and treatment frames with a moral-secular and a moral-religious framing of pro-climate action. We found that moral appeals did not influence individuals to make low-carbon food choices. Across the entire sample, respondents tended to favor non-vegetarian options with higher carbon footprints. Those who prioritized taste were less inclined to choose the vegetarian menu. However, some subgroups did show a preference for the vegetarian menu, including women, those with pro-climate attitudes and prior exposure to a vegetarian diet, and those who considered the health impact of their food choices. In conclusion, it appears that moral appeals are unlikely to drive significant changes in individual food choices toward a more climate-friendly food system. Instead, dietary preferences are primarily shaped by individuals’ pre-existing climate attitudes and demographics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the history of the Vegetarian and Octagon Settlement Companies in Kansas, which aimed to establish vegetarian and octagonal design colonies in the 1850s. The text explores the connections between vegetarianism and abolitionism, as well as the challenges and failures faced by the settlement. Despite its ultimate failure, the settlement contributed to the fight against slavery in Kansas. The text also mentions the political situation in Kansas at the time, with tensions between pro-slavery and free-state settlers, as well as the popularity of phrenology and the ongoing conflict known as "Bleeding Kansas." [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the life and work of Fania Lewando, a vegetarian author and restaurateur in Poland during the early 20th century. Lewando's cookbook, "Vegetarish-Dietisher Kokhbukh," contains 408 vegetarian recipes that draw from traditional Ashkenazic cookery as well as Polish and Lithuanian cuisines. The article highlights the authoritative nature of Lewando's voice and the challenges she faced as a Yiddish writer in a time when the Polish language was finding a new voice. The article also emphasizes the importance of seasonal vegetables in Jewish cooking and the lasting impact of Lewando's recipes. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Dietary and gastrointestinal (GI) problems have been frequently reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the relative contributions of autism-linked traits to dietary and GI problems in children with ASD are poorly understood. This study firstly compared the dietary intake and GI symptoms between children with ASD and typically developing children (TDC), and then quantified the relative contributions of autism-linked traits to dietary intake, and relative contributions of autism-linked traits and dietary intake to GI symptoms within the ASD group. Methods: A sample of 121 children with ASD and 121 age-matched TDC were eligible for this study. The dietary intake indicators included food groups intakes, food variety, and diet quality. The autism-linked traits included ASD symptom severity, restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs), sensory profiles, mealtime behaviors, and their subtypes. Linear mixed-effects models and mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to estimate the relative contributions. Results: Children with ASD had poorer diets with fewer vegetables/fruits, less variety of food, a higher degree of inadequate/unbalanced dietary intake, and more severe constipation/total GI symptoms than age-matched TDC. Within the ASD group, compulsive behavior (a subtype of RRBs) and taste/smell sensitivity were the only traits associated with lower vegetables and fruit consumption, respectively. Self-injurious behavior (a subtype of RRBs) was the only contributing trait to less variety of food. Limited variety (a subtype of mealtime behavior problems) and ASD symptom severity were the primary and secondary contributors to inadequate dietary intake, respectively. ASD symptom severity and limited variety were the primary and secondary contributors to unbalanced dietary intake, respectively. Notably, unbalanced dietary intake was a significant independent factor associated with constipation/total GI symptoms, and autism-linked traits manifested no contributions. Conclusions: ASD symptom severity and unbalanced diets were the most important contributors to unbalanced dietary intake and GI symptoms, respectively. Our findings highlight that ASD symptom severity and unbalanced diets could provide the largest benefits for the dietary and GI problems of ASD if they were targeted for early detection and optimal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teacher burnout and high recovery need are a topic of concern for educational institutions. This cross-sectional study assesses the association between lifestyle (including physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), dietary behavior and sleep), burnout risk and recovery need in 1878 secondary schoolteachers in Flanders. In September–October 2019, an online-questionnaire assessing burnout (i.e., emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment), recovery need, PA-domains, SB-domains, dietary behavior (including fruit and vegetable intake and diet quality) and sleep during the week and the weekend was completed. Multiple linear regression models were applied. More emotional exhaustion was associated with more domestic and garden PA, work-related SB and sleep during the weekend, whereas higher scores of emotional exhaustion were associated with lower fruit intake, diet quality and less sleep during the week. More depersonalization was associated with more leisure-time PA and work-related SB and with lower fruit intake. Teachers showing more recovery need, showed more domestic and garden PA and work-related SB, but less leisure-time PA and sleep during the week. Future research should use longitudinal or experimental designs to get more insight into causality. Despite the low effect sizes, education networks and schools might benefit from promoting and facilitating a healthy lifestyle in secondary schoolteachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a significant increase in the prevalence of vegetarianism and veganism in children in France, data on the care pathway of these children are scarce. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of the medical follow-up of vegan/vegetarian children, to evaluate the medical practices, and to analyze the perceptions of parents. This was a double cross-sectional survey. One questionnaire was sent to parents of vegetarian/vegan children, and the other to French doctors (pediatricians or general practitioners). A total of 241 vegetarian families responded to the study and nearly one quarter (n = 67, 28 %) were unsatisfied with the medical follow-up of their child. Parents considered that their child's diet was responsible for refusing a medical consultation in 11 % (n = 27) of cases. In almost one third of cases (n = 70, 29 %), participants declared that the doctor was unaware of their child's diet. Vitamin B 12 supplementation was commonly used (n = 195, 81 %), mainly by self-medication, and laboratory testing was performed for 30 % (n = 72) of children. Regarding the questionnaire for doctors, most of the participants (n = 318/501, 63 %) reported having vegetarian/vegan children in their cohort. A few of them (n = 70, 14 %) declared they did not systematically screen for meat and fish consumption during consultations. Doctors caring for vegetarian/vegan children had 27 % correct answers to questions regarding the nutrition guidelines. Overall, 36 % of them (n = 117) systematically referred the child to a specialist. The medical follow-up of vegetarian/vegan children in France is very heterogeneous. Parents and doctors alike stressed the need to develop reliable sources of knowledge. A systematic screening of the diet and a referral to a specialist could help to improve the management of vegetarian/vegan children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between professional ethical reflection and corresponding moral behavior is an important theme of moral psychology in recent years. Following Schönegger and Wagner's research in German-speaking countries, through a replication-extension of the original US-based research carried out by Schwitzgebel and Rust, we aim at examining their results in the Chinese context. The previous researchers have shown that ethical reflection generally has no positive effect on moral behavior. A cross validation of this result was conducted in Chinese mainland, and three issues concerning Confucian virtues were added. Through reaching out to 4482 professors and collecting 368 responses altogether, we attempted to explore whether professional ethical reflection can influence normative attitude and the moral attitude-behavior consistency. Unfortunately, the results failed to show a statistically significant difference between ethicists and other professors on most of the moral issues, with the exception of paying academic membership fees and vegetarianism, wherein ethicists do express more stringent normative attitudes, and their moral attitude and self-reported behavior are statistically consistent. Notably, Chinese professors mainly expressed morally neutral attitudes toward the issue of eating meat, and they tended to believe that ethical reflection contributes to more and better moral behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Apolipoproteins have been recently proposed as novel markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, evidence regarding effects of diet on apolipoproteins is limited. Aim: To compare the effects of Mediterranean diet (MD) and lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (VD) on apolipoproteins and traditional CVD risk factors in participants with low-to-moderate CVD risk. Methods: Fifty-two participants (39 women; 49.1 ± 12.4 years), followed MD and VD for 3 months each. Medical and dietary information was collected at the baseline. Anthropometric parameters and blood samples were obtained at the beginning and the end of interventions. Results: MD and VD resulted in significant improvement in anthropometric and lipid profiles. Both diets led to a reduction in most of the inflammatory parameters. As for apolipoproteins, a significant change was observed for ApoC-I after VD (+ 24.4%; p = 0.020). MD led to a negative correlation between ApoC-III and carbohydrates (R = − 0.29; p = 0.039) whereas VD between ApoD and saturated fats (R = − 0.38; p = 0.006). A positive correlation emerged after VD between HDL and ApoD (R = 0.33; p = 0.017) and after MD between plasma triglycerides and ApoC-I (R = 0.32; p = 0.020) and ApoD (R = 0.30; p = 0.031). IL-17 resulted to be positively correlated with ApoB after MD (R = 0.31; p = 0.028) and with ApoC-III after VD (R = 0.32; p = 0.019). Subgroup analysis revealed positive effects on apolipoproteins from both diets, especially in women, individuals older than 50 years-old or with < 3 CVD risk factors. Conclusions: Both diets seem to improve CVD risk, however, MD showed a greater positive effect on apolipoproteins in some subgroups, thus suggesting how diet may influence new potential markers of CVD risk. Trial registration: registered at clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT02641834) on December 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research shows that adult meat eaters strategically distort or disregard information about animals (e.g., their intelligence) that is problematic for meat consumption. However, the development of such behaviours is not well understood. Two studies tested whether primary‐school‐age children exhibit motivated use of information about food animals as adults do (N = 148 children, 410 adults). Using experimental methods that manipulated participants' perceptions of the intelligence (high vs. low) of food animals versus non‐food animals (Study 1) and the perspective taken (self vs. other; Study 2), it was found that, compared to adult omnivores, children tend to hold stronger moral views about the wrongness of harming animals to use as food. Only adults exhibited motivated non‐use of intelligence information and self‐other distinctions in their moral‐concern judgments. Children's judgments of eating animals did not exhibit the strategic, self‐serving processes characteristic of adult meat eaters. Psychological explanations for these developmental differences are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An increasing number of people have adhered to a vegetarian diet for several years. Nowadays, the favourable effect of this dietary pattern on metabolic diseases is well established, but its impact on fertility and reproductive health as a serious health concern is not clear yet. Therefore, we aim to summarise existing evidence regarding the possible association between a vegetarian diet and fertility as measured by key indicators such as sperm quality and sex hormone levels. Methods: We systematically searched online databases, including PubMed, ISI, Scopus and Google Scholar, up to 1 December 2022 using relevant keywords. We included observational studies that compared semen quality, sex hormone levels and infertility in people who adhered to a vegetarian diet versus an omnivore diet. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using I2 and Q tests. Standardised mean differences (SMD) using a random/fixed model were calculated to assess outcomes between vegetarians and omnivores in included articles. Results: Finally, out of 972 documents that were retrieved, 20 articles met our inclusion criteria, and 16 were eligible for quantitative synthesis. Results of meta‐analyses showed that there were no significant differences between vegetarians and omnivores in terms of semen quality parameters, including total sperm count, total and progressive sperm motility, sperm morphology and sperm concentration. Seven studies on female sex hormone profiles were eligible for meta‐analysis. The only significant difference was the lower level of plasma oestrone in vegetarians (pooled SMD: −0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.08, −0.05; p‐value = 0.03) compared to omnivores. Furthermore, our meta‐analysis revealed significantly higher sex‐hormone‐binding globulin levels in vegetarian men than in omnivores (pooled SMD: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.86; p‐value = 0.002). Conclusion: Despite the numerous health benefits of a vegetarian diet, our review suggested that there were no conclusive positive or negative associations between vegetarian diet and semen quality, sex hormone levels and infertility. Further studies are recommended to better understand vegetarian dietary pattern effect on infertility and reproductive health. Key points: This systematic review and meta‐analysis examined the association between vegetarian diet and fertility, focusing on sperm quality and sex hormone levels. The results indicate that there were no significant differences in semen quality parameters between vegetarians and omnivores; however, female vegetarians showed lower plasma oestrone levels, and male vegetarians exhibited higher sex‐hormone‐binding globulin levels compared to omnivores. Further research is warranted to gain a better understanding of the effect of vegetarian diet on reproductive health and fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Despite concerns about animal welfare, and health and environmental issues associated with eating meat, meat consumption continues to increase in many countries around the world. The aim of this pre-registered study was to identify predictors of meat consumption among 399 Germans and 399 Australians. Participants reported current and intended meat consumption, reasons for eating meat, attitudes towards animals, and perceptions of animal farming. In both countries, the more people enjoyed the taste of meat, the more often they ate it, and the more empathy they had towards farmed animals, the less often they ate it. People who thought they would find it easy to reduce meat consumption had greater intentions to do so. Campaigns to reduce meat consumption should focus on increasing empathy towards farmed animals, highlighting tasty plant-based alternatives and outlining ways to make the transition easier. Despite concerns about animal welfare, and health and environmental issues associated with eating meat, meat consumption has continued to increase worldwide, including in Australia. One exception to this is Germany, with 2021 meat consumption levels being the lowest in the last 30 years. This pre-registered study investigated socio-cultural variables associated with meat consumption in Germany (n = 399) and Australia (n = 399) in a cross-sectional online survey. Participants reported levels of current and intended meat consumption, and they completed measures of speciesism, motivations to eat meat, empathy, animal farming perceptions, perceived behavioural control (PBC) over meat eating, and avoidance and dissociation regarding the animal origins of meat. In both Australia and Germany, enjoying the taste of meat positively predicted consumption and empathy towards farmed animals negatively predicted consumption. PBC was a strong positive predictor of intentions to reduce meat consumption in both countries. Empathy and liking the taste of meat were among the best predictors of red meat and poultry consumption, suggesting that interventions to reduce meat consumption may work best by targeting these factors while also increasing people's sense of control over their food choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nutritional adequacy of human milk (HM) from vegan/vegetarian mothers has been a matter of debate, and a variety of recommendations regarding the eligibility of these mothers as human milk donors exists. According to the latest evidence, HM from vegans/vegetarians is similar in its composition to that from omnivores, however, some differences may be observed regarding vitamin B12 and omega‐3 fatty acids concentrations. Maternal supplementation of these compounds has been proven effective in increasing their HM concentration. With this survey, we aimed to explore the practices currently in use in European human milk banks (HMBs) regarding potential donors following vegan/vegetarian diets. The online survey was distributed to European HMBs between January and July 2022. A total of 188 HMBs were contacted, and 118 replied (response rate 63%). Vegan and vegetarian mothers were recommended supplements of vitamin B12 to be accepted as donors in 27% and 26% of HMBs, respectively. Additional omega‐3 fatty acid supplementation was required in 8% HMBs. In the remaining HMBs, these mothers were either systematically excluded or included regardless of supplementation. The dosage of the recommended supplements was extremely variable. Fifty‐one percent of HMBs were following recommendations to guide their practice, national or local recommendations mainly. Great variability in European HMBs practices towards potential donors following vegan/vegetarian diets exists. Some of these practices can result in loss of donors and/or in potential nutritional deficiencies. Standardised evidence‐based recommendations on this issue and their implementation in daily HMB practice are needed. Key messages: There is significant variability among the practices of European human milk banks towards donors following a vegan or vegetarian diet.The majority of human milk banks follow no guidelines or local guidelines, rather than international ones.Some of the practices currently in use can result in the loss of potential donors and/or nutritional deficiencies for mothers, their babies, and potentially for recipients of donor human milk.Evidence‐based recommendations regarding the inclusion of these mothers in human milk donation and nutritional counselling are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In recent years, plant-based diets and their effects on health have gained attention. This diet has become a preferred dietary style for managing obesity. Weight gain is influenced by various factors, such as low body image perception and obesity prejudice. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of plant-based diets among female students and their associations with obesity prejudice and body self-perception. METHODS: The research was conducted with 450 female university students. The anthropometric measurements were obtained based on self-reporting. the GAMS-27 Obesity Prejudice Scale and the Multidimensional Body-Self Relationship Questionnaire (MBSRQ) were applied to evaluate obesity prejudice and body self-perception, respectively. RESULTS: The study found no significant differences in anthropometric measurements between omnivores and vegetarians (p > 0.05). However, 78.6% of the students showed some level of tendency toward prejudice or prejudice against obesity. There was no significant relationship between body weight, BMI, and obesity prejudice in both dietary groups (p > 0.05). Yet, vegetarians had significantly lower mean scores on the MBRSQ, indicating body image dissatisfaction (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: While the anthropometric measurement and prejudice against obesity did not yield notable results, significantly lower scores on the MBSRQ indicated greater dissatisfaction with body image in vegetarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of Islam to the South Asian region of Kashmir and its role in shaping the socio-religious and political contours in the region is a highly charged debate in academic as well as popular circles. This article examines the early modern debates about the vegetarian food practices of a sixteenth-century Sufi saint of Kashmir, Baba Hyder Rishi (b. 1504) and contemporary debates around the modern cult mainly centered around his shrine in the Anantnag (locally known as Islamabad) town of south Kashmir. It is divided into two parts; the first focuses on debates during the saint's own lifetime and the second analyses modern debates about what has by now emerged as a cult around the saint's shrine. We begin with a critical re-evaluation of the wide-spread notion that the saint's practice of vegetarianism was, much like his predecessors in the local Rīshī Sufi order, grounded in local Buddhist-Hindu customs and thus exemplifies the syncretic nature of Islam in Kashmir. Instead, we argue that both the defence and contestation of the saint's practice as well its modern cult was and continues to be located within the Islamic tradition itself. We use this discussion for a critical reflection on the widely prevalent idea of religious syncretism in Kashmir and the over-simplified and ahistorical view of Islam as a monolith, and then explore the possibility of using Islamic 'multiplicity' as an alternate analytical category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a prevalent malignancy affecting men worldwide, and plant-based diets have been widely advocated for their health benefits. The aim of this study was to test the association between general, healthy, and unhealthy pro-vegetarian plant-based diets and PCa severity on 118 consecutive patients undergoing prostatectomy in a university hospital in Italy. Food frequency questionnaires were used to calculate scores for dietary patterns. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to test the associations. A general plant-based diet was not associated with cancer severity, while patients reporting a higher adherence to a healthy plant-based diet were less likely to have a more severe PCa (for medium/high vs. low-risk PCa, OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.88; for high vs. medium/low-risk PCa, OR = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.39). Patients resulting in higher adherence to an unhealthy plant-based diet were more likely to be diagnosed with more severe PCa (OR = 6.15, 95% CI: 1.70, 22.24). In conclusion, plant-based dietary patterns may have a different impact on PCa severity depending on the quality of the foods included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetarians developed transnational ties between India and Europe, sharing ideals of purity that also contributed to the formation of today's Hindu nationalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tools for measuring adherence to sustainable healthy diets among children and adolescents are lacking. Objective: To advance methods for measuring adherence to sustainable healthy diets among children and adolescents by adapting an existing index, compare scores obtained using the original and adapted versions of the index in a sample of Chilean children, and describe the adapted index association with diet characteristics. Methods: The Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) was adapted to better reflect children's and adolescents' nutritional requirements. The adapted index (PHDI-C) comprises 16 components with a maximum score of 150 points. PHDI-C was piloted among a sample of 958 Chilean children (3–6 years) using dietary data collected in 2016 through single 24-h recalls. A decision tree and food disaggregation methodology were developed to guide the calculation of scores. Scores obtained using the original and adapted versions of the index were compared. Linear regression models adjusted by child's gender and age were fitted to explore associations between total PHDI-C score, dietary recall characteristics and nutritional composition of children's diets. Results: PHDI accounted for 75.7% of children's total caloric intake, whereas PHDI-C accounted for 99.6%. PHDI & PHCI-C scores were low among this sample of children; however, mean total score was lower when using PHDI compared to PHDI-C [40.7(12.1) vs 50.1(14.6)]. Children's scores were very low for nuts & peanuts, legumes, dark green vegetables, whole cereals, tubers & potatoes, and added sugars components across both indices, but were higher for dairy products and eggs & white meats components when using the PHDI-C due to adjustments made to ensure nutritional adequacy. Mean total PHDI-C score was significantly lower on weekends and special occasions, and significantly higher when children reported having a special diet (e.g., vegetarian). Total PHDI-C score was negatively associated with total sugars, saturated fats, trans fats, and animal-based protein intake, and positively associated with total protein, plant-based protein, total carbohydrates, and total fibre intake. Conclusions: This study provides a replicable method for measuring adherence to sustainable healthy diets among children and adolescents that can be used to monitor trends and measure the effectiveness of actions targeting improving children's diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participants, 672 US collegians, listed four words/terms that first came to mind when thinking of vegans, non-vegan vegetarians, and omnivores. Participants generated 1264 unique descriptors, which two sets of raters, who were blind to the source of the descriptors, rated on 10 dimensions that included the valence of the descriptors (i.e., positive, negative). A series of multilevel models in which descriptors were nested within persons, found that descriptors referring to environmental issues and health were used more frequently when describing both vegans and vegetarians than when describing omnivores. Descriptors referring to deviance, lifestyle, and politics were used more frequently when describing both vegans and vegetarians than when describing omnivores. Overall, vegans were viewed more negatively than vegetarians who were viewed more negatively than omnivores. These differences were moderated by the extent to which participants restricted meat from their diet. Those who restricted meat from their diets to a greater extent had more negative perceptions and fewer positive perceptions of omnivores, whereas they had more positive perceptions of vegans and vegetarians, and fewer positive perceptions of omnivores. The present study is the first to use spontaneous verbal reports to examine attitudes and perceptions of people based on their eating habits. The results suggest that dietary habits can serve as a basis for social identity, which in turn affects perceptions of others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic disease is at an all-time high with over 90% of people eating a Western diet found to be deficient in omega-3 while consuming an excess of proinflammatory omega-6 oils.(1) Marine-derived omega oils have significant consequences for the environment with some experts predicting virtually empty oceans by 2048 forced by fish stocks collapsing. According to experts, there is no way for the global population to meet recommended dietary EPA/DHA intakes from marine sources and other terrestrial sources need to be utilised. Many of our current sources are forced to pass the rate limiting delta-6-desaturase enzyme step to be utilized in the body. Surprisingly, regeneratively grown refined Buglossoides arvensis seed oil, a hedgerow plant, has been found to provide the most diverse array of anti-inflammatory oxylipin precursors from complementary omega 3-6 pathways. Not only is it rich in omega-3 fatty acids, hence its patented name Ahiflower®, it is also especially rich in SDA (up to 21%) which bypasses the rate limiting delta-6-desaturase step. Refined Buglossoides arvensis seed oil also provides recognised anti-inflammatory substrates including ETA, EPA, DPA, DGLA and efficiently biosynthesised DHA. Refined Buglossoides arvensis seed oil is the only vegan, non-GMO dietary oil available with more efficient metabolic conversion and accrual of EPA and DHA biosynthesis than from flax, chia, hemp, sacha inchi, perilla, or echium oils and whilst providing the ALA, SDA, ETA and GLA not provided by algal oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There is increasing interest in the health benefits of plant-based diets (PBDs). Evidence reports favourable associations with inflammatory profiles and reduced cardiovascular disease risk. However, limited studies have examined relationships between PBD indices (PDIs) and inflammatory biomarkers. We explored overall PDI, healthful PDI (hPDI) and unhealthful PDI (uPDI) associations with inflammatory biomarker profiles. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 1986 middle- to older-aged adults from the Mitchelstown Cohort. PDI scores were calculated using validated food frequency questionnaires. PDI score associations with inflammatory biomarkers were assessed via linear regression analysis, with adjustment for potential confounders. Results: Comparison of quintiles (Q5 vs Q1) revealed lower concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), white blood cells (WBCs), neutrophils and monocytes, and the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio (PDI and hPDI P < 0.05); lower leptin (PDI, P < 0.05), and complement component 3 (C3), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, lymphocytes and eosinophils (hPDI, P < 0.05); and higher concentrations of adiponectin (PDI and hPDI, P < 0.05). Conversely, higher concentrations of C3, CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, resistin, WBCs, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and lower adiponectin concentrations were observed comparing uPDI quintiles (P < 0.05). In fully adjusted regression models, higher hPDI scores were associated with lower concentrations of C3, TNF-α, WBCs, neutrophils and monocytes (all P < 0.01). Higher uPDI scores were associated with higher C3 and TNF-α concentrations (all P < 0.01). Conclusion: This study provides evidence that a more healthful PBD is associated with a more favourable inflammatory profile and that a more unhealthful PBD is associated with the reverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Populations following a plant-based diet may be at particular risk of thyroid dysfunction due to low iodine and selenium intakes. The main purpose was to assess thyroid function and urinary concentration of iodine, selenium, and arsenic, in subjects following a vegan, lacto-ovo vegetarian, or pescatarian diet. Methods: In Norway, a country without mandatory dietary iodine fortification, 205 adults, following vegan (n = 115), lacto-ovo vegetarian (n = 55) and pescatarian diet (n = 35) were included. Thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), and serum anti-TPO (S-anti-TPO) were measured in a venous blood sample and concentrations of iodine (UIC), creatinine (UCC), selenium, and arsenic were measured from single spot urine samples. Results: Subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH > 4.0 mU/L) was observed in 3% of subjects. The overall median (p25, p75) Tg was 17 (9, 30) µg/L and vegans had higher Tg compared to pescatarians. Vegans not consuming iodine-containing supplements (n = 43) had higher Tg, than supplement users (n = 72), 27 (11, 44) vs. 16 (8, 25) µg/L and higher fT4, 16 (15, 17) vs. 15 (14, 17) pmol/L, respectively. The overall median UIC was 57 (28, 130) µg/L, all dietary groups had median UIC below WHO thresholds. Median urinary selenium and arsenic concentration was 13 (6, 22) and 3 (2, 8) µg/L, respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was low and fT4 and fT3 were within the normal range for all dietary groups. Vegans had significantly increased Tg compared to pescatarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Globally, there appears to be an ever-increasing interest in adopting a vegetarian diet. However, there are concerns that avoiding meat may increase the risk of anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies, especially for vulnerable populations, such as adolescent women. The objective of this study was to compare the micronutrient status of vegetarian and non-vegetarian adolescent women in New Zealand. Methods and Study Design: Adolescent women aged 15-18 y were recruited from eight locations across New Zealand. Blood samples were analysed for: haemoglobin, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor, zinc, selenium, retinol binding protein, folate, vitamin B-12, vitamin D and parathyroid hormone. Results: Of the 182 participants who provided a blood sample, 15% self-identified as vegetarian (n=27). On average, vegetarians had 3.1% (95% CI -5.8 to -0.4, p=0.025) lower haemoglobin, and 8.3% (95%CI -14.1 to -2.1, p=0.004) lower selenium. In contrast, serum folate was 80.5% (95% CI 45.7 to 123.7, p<0.001) higher. The prevalence of zinc and selenium deficiency was higher among vegetarians (50% and 12%, respectively) than non-vegetarians (21%, and 2%, respectively). Conclusions: Adolescent vegetarian women may be at increased risk of deficiency of micronutrients commonly found in animal products, including zinc and selenium, and may benefit from following dietary practices that enhance micronutrient intake and absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Popular commercial meal kit subscription services (MKSSs) may support families to overcome barriers to cooking and eating at home, and facilitate improved vegetable consumption. The global meal kit market has expanded rapidly creating a gap in our understanding of the health-promoting potential of MKSSs. This paper describes the contemporary MKSS market in Australia and provides a vegetable-specific content analysis of a sample of recipes. A 1-week subscription was purchased for all Australian-based MKSSs (n  = 9) and websites were systematically reviewed to document key characteristics and recipe features. Vegetable content of all available recipes within a 1-week period were analysed. Our findings highlight the rapid expansion and evolution of MKSS market offerings over the past decade and their potential to support family vegetable consumption. Across all analysed recipes (n  = 179), MKSSs provided a median of 2.5 vegetable serves per person (range 0.7–7.5 serves) and a median of 3 different types of vegetables from 2 vegetable subgroups (i.e. dark green, red and orange, starchy, legumes and all other vegetables). This suggests that MKSSs may support family vegetable consumption if families select recipes with a greater number and variety of vegetables. However, an opportunity remains for MKSSs to improve both vegetable quantity and variety to positively influence population health. Further research is required to describe how families use meal kits promoting a greater understanding of their potential to improve family nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease manifesting as weak and fragile bones. Dietary patterns have been described as an affecting constituent of bone metabolism. There is no consensus on the advantages or harms of vegetarian diets on bone health. This study aimed to design a lacto-vegetarian dietary score (LVDS) to evaluate the similarity of an individual's dietary pattern to the lacto-vegetarian dietary pattern and assess its association with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). We hypothesized that individuals with greater LVDS will have a lower risk for PMO. In this hospital-based, case-control study, 220 cases (definitively diagnosed with osteoporosis) and 220 age-matched controls were registered. Usual dietary intakes were evaluated by a validated 147-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. To design the LVDS, the energy-adjusted intakes of 12 food groups were categorized into quintiles, and positive or reverse points were assigned. To determine the association between the LVDS and PMO, binary logistic regression was used. Those in the top tertile of the LVDS had a lower chance of PMO compared with those in the bottom tertile (odds ratio, 0.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.06-0.22). An inverse relation was obtained between vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, dairy, soy protein, and egg consumption and PMO. Higher consumption of vegetable and animal oils significantly increased the risk of PMO. A dietary pattern similar to the lacto-vegetarian dietary pattern and concentrated on greater consumption of legumes, nuts, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and soy protein can be suggested as a protective method against PMO. Further, longitudinal studies are required to confirm these findings. To design LVDS, the energy-adjusted intakes of 12 food groups were categorized into quintiles and positive or reverse points were assigned. Greater LVDS was in line with reduced risk of PMO. An inverse relation was obtained between vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, dairy, soy protein, and egg intakes and PMO. Higher intakes of vegetable and animal oils increased the risk of PMO. FFQ, food frequency questionnaire; LVDS, lacto-vegetarian dietary score; PMO, postmenopausal osteoporosis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immediate action is needed to stabilise the climate. Dietitians require knowledge of how the therapeutic diets they prescribe may contribute to climate change. No previous research has quantified the climate footprint of therapeutic diets. This study sought to quantify and compare the climate footprint of two types of therapeutic diets for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with two reference diets. Methods: A usual diet for an individual with CKD and a novel plant‐based diet for CKD were compared with the current Australian diet and the Australian‐adapted EAT Lancet Planetary Health Diet (PHD). The climate footprint of these diets was measured using the Global Warming Potential (GWP*) metric for a reference 71‐year‐old male. Results: No diets analysed were climate neutral, and therefore, all contribute to climate change. The novel plant‐based diet for CKD (1.20 kg carbon dioxide equivalents [CO2e] per day) produced 35% less CO2e than the usual renal diet for an individual with CKD (1.83 kg CO2e per day) and 50% less than the current Australian diet (2.38 kg CO2e per day). The Australian‐adapted EAT Lancet PHD (1.04 kg CO2e per day) produced the least amount of CO2e and 56% less than the current Australian diet. The largest contributors to the climate footprint of all four diets were foods from the meats and alternatives, dairy and alternatives and discretionary food groups. Conclusions: Dietetic advice to reduce the climate footprint of therapeutic diets for CKD should focus on discretionary foods and some animal‐based products. Future research is needed on other therapeutic diets. Key points/highlights: The climate footprint of a plant‐based diet was superior to the usual renal diet.Key drivers of emissions were animal‐based foods such as beef, dairy and discretionary foods such as processed meat products.All diets examined contribute to climate warming, including the Australian‐adapted EAT Lancet Planetary Health Diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]