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The dietary intake of vitamin B12 among unsupplemented vegans is notably lower compared to both vegetarians and omnivores. Prolonged low intakes of vitamin B12, such as seen in those adhering to a vegan diet, lead to physiological deficiency of vitamin B12 and an elevated risk of B12‐related morbidity. However, while serum B12 serves as a conventional biomarker for assessing B12 status, its utility is limited given its sensitivity and specificity in ascribing physiological deficiency of B12 and the functional vitamin B12 status of those adhering to vegan diets is unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis using data based on the full panel of biomarkers of vitamin B12 status to test whether adherence to a vegan diet is associated with an elevated risk of functional vitamin B12 deficiency compared to vegetarian or omnivorous diets. In addition, subgroup analysis was carried out to look at the effect of vitamin B12 supplement use on B12 status among vegans. Our search identified 4002 records, of which 19 studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review and 17 studies were taken forward for the meta‐analysis. Meta‐analysis results revealed significantly lower serum B12, pmol/ (−0.72 [−1.26, −0.18]; p = 0.01) and elevated total homocysteine, μmol/L (tHcy) (0.57 [0.26, 0.89]; p < 0.001) concentrations, alongside elevated methylmalonic acid, nmol/L (MMA) (0.28 [−0.01, 0.57]; p = 0.06) and lower holotranscobalamin, pmol/ (HoloTC) (−0.42 [−0.91, 0.07]; p = 0.09) levels among vegan adults compared to omnivores, indicating increased functional B12 deficiency in addition to low vitamin B12 status in vegan adults. There were no differences between vegans and vegetarians in HoloTC (0.04 [−0.28, 0.35]; p = 0.814) or MMA (−0.05 [−0.29, 0.20]; p = 0.708), but differences were found in serum B12 (−0.25 [−0.40, −0.10]; p = 0.001) and for tHcy (0.24 [0.09, 0.39]; p = 0.002) concentrations. Subgroup analyses indicated that the use of vitamin B12 supplements among vegans contributes to significant improvements in all biomarker concentrations compared to their unsupplemented counterparts. Our findings underscore the need for improved strategies to redress poor vitamin B12 status with appropriate B12 supplementation use among those adhering to vegetarian and vegan diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positioning and position are notions that are quite often used currently in psychology, mostly with reference to Dialogical Self Theory and Positioning Theory. In this article, drawing on these two approaches as well as on socio-cultural psychology, I elaborate an integrative understanding of positioning. It includes a distinction between the socio-material, socio-discursive and moral dimensions of positioning, as well as a distinction between microgenetic, ontogenetic and sociogenetic scales of positioning. I illustrate the hermeneutical power of this theoretical proposition through the presentation of a study of positioning regarding the consumption of products of animal origin. I present an analysis of data collected in 2016 in a Swiss canton with qualitative semi-structured interviews with 10 participants. I focus on difficulties in positioning and show how the classical approach in terms of I-positions, and analyses based on the two distinctions presented above, allow differentiated insights on dynamics underlying the difficulties to position as a vegetarian or vegan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating inflammatory condition which has a high disease burden. While there is emerging evidence that certain foods and diets could have anti-inflammatory properties and there are published 'anti-inflammatory' diets, there is very little understanding of patient beliefs and perceptions about the impact of diet on symptom management or attitudes to particular dietary interventions. This scoping review aims to summarize the existing literature around the beliefs that patients with rheumatoid arthritis hold regarding the impact of diet on disease activity and joint pain. It also examines the current state of evidence regarding the impact of specific dietary interventions on patient reported and objective parameters of RA disease activity. A search was conducted across seven databases for studies which included reporting on dietary beliefs related to disease management or investigations on the effect of particular diets on disease activity or joint pain. Articles were excluded if they examined extracted compounds or individual dietary supplements. Included studies were synthesized narratively. We retrieved 25,585 papers from which 68 were included in this review: 7 assessed dietary beliefs, 61 explored dietary interventions. The available literature on patient beliefs has been largely limited to quantitative studies with limited qualitative exploration. The Mediterranean, fasting and vegan diets appear to have the most benefit with regards to rheumatoid arthritis outcomes for patients. Research which examines RA patient's beliefs and attitudes about the impact of diet on their RA symptoms and disease is currently lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a noncommunicable disease with a high burden, including the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular events, and death. It is characterized by abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, increased fasting plasma glucose levels, hypertriglyceridemia, and reduced levels of high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. MetS is preventable by modifying lifestyle and dietary patterns, which are major contributing factors. This research aimed to investigate the dietary patterns of the Shiraz Heart Study (SHS) and their associations with the occurrence of MetS and its components among middle‐aged residents of Shiraz. Methods. Based on data from the Shiraz Heart Study (SHS), a prospective cohort study, the nutritional status of 1,675 participants was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Three food patterns were extracted from the analysis named as vegan, western, and carbohydrate. Subjects were categorized into three levels for three major dietary patterns: low, moderate, and high, based on their adherence to each pattern. After adjusting the effect of co‐founder variables, the relationship between dietary patterns, and the risk of developing MetS was analyzed. Results. Of the 1,675 participants, 728 (43.5%) of them were male. The prevalence of MetS was 47.2%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high adherence to the vegan pattern was negatively associated with the occurrence of MetS (P value <0.001), while low adherence to the western pattern was also negatively associated (P value <0.05). Conclusion. Healthier diets, such as vegan diets, are significantly related to lower rates of MetS among the 40–70‐year‐old people in Shiraz, Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) is increasing in many countries. Simultaneously, there is a growing number of consumers that follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, many due to its possible positive impact on sustainability and food waste. However, little is known about attitudes towards and experiences with UPF among vegetarians and vegans. Thus, this study investigates vegetarians' and vegans' experiences with and attitudes towards UPFs. Methods: We conducted semi-structured, individual interviews with 14 participants between September and December 2021. The participants were from different areas in Norway. The data were analysed using a thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke. Results: In general, participants appeared to have diverse knowledge of and divergent attitudes towards UPFs. However, participants mainly associated substitute products (e.g. meat substitutes, dairy substitutes) as UPFs. They appreciated the increased availability of vegetarian and vegan UPF which made it easier for them to follow a plant-based diet. They enjoyed the taste and consistency of vegetarian and vegan UPF. However, participants expressed concerns about the effects that industrial processing has on the products' nutritional content. Conclusion: This study indicated that there was a diverse knowledge of and various attitudes towards UPFs among the participating vegetarians and vegans. Public information and guidelines about using UPF (e.g. meat substitutes, dairy substitutes) in vegetarian and vegan diets are needed, as well as information about their possible impact on health and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-consumption has been studied in marketing and in consumer behavior. Veganism is an anti-consumption behavior that has growth potential in Brazil and worldwide. This study investigated the motivations for becoming vegan and how veganism impacts the lives of its adopters. In-depth interviews were conducted with people who consider themselves vegans. Respondents were selected from veganism groups on social networks. The results showed the main motivations to have a vegan way of life, the difficulties, the main consumption habits and future perspectives. The biggest motivation to be vegan is the concern with the animals' welfare. In addition, a person changes many of their old habits because of veganism. They stop consuming a lot of food and products. It was observed that changes in habits reflect negatively on relationships. However, respondentes are optimistic about veganism growth in Brazil and the positive impacts that can be generated to society and the environment. Many see themselves as agents of change in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there are data regarding the glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) of many foods in the literature, the values for packaged vegan analogue foods have not been previously published, although processed vegan foods usually contain more carbohydrates than their animal‐based counterparts. This study was carried out to determine the GI and GL values of a selection of packaged vegan foods popular in Türkiye. To determine the GI and GL of test foods, 12 healthy volunteer females participated in the study. Participants randomly consumed test and reference foods (glucose and white bread) on each trial day, and capillary blood glucose was measured at baseline, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 mins in duplicate. The GIs of vegan schnitzel, vegan chickpea burger, vegan mince pita, vegan chocolate, vegan snack bar and vegan cheese were 26.1 ± 19.61 (low), 27.1 ± 17.21 (low), 65.1 ± 28.60 (moderate), 42.7 ± 22.32 (low), 63.6 ± 45.86 (moderate), 36.4 ± 16.85 (low), respectively, according to the glucose reference, and were 28.2 ± 16.17 (low), 34.7 ± 18.26 (low), 81.2 ± 31.96 (high), 48.8 ± 12.87 (low), 82.0 ± 54.05 (high), 46.7 ± 28.66 (low), respectively, according to the white bread reference. GLs were 3.5 ± 2.66 (low), 8.6 ± 5.46 (low), 26.6 ± 11.67 (high), 6.1 ± 3.19 (low), 14.2 ± 10.28 (moderate), 5.7 ± 2.63 (low), respectively, according to the glucose reference, and were 3.8 ± 2.19 (low), 11.0 ± 5.80 (moderate), 33.1 ± 13.04 (high), 7.0 ± 1.84 (low), 18.4 ± 12.12 (moderate), 7.3 ± 4.47 (low), respectively, according to the white bread reference. The data from this study provide preliminary data for the GIs and GLs of packaged and processed vegan foods and show that the GIs and GLs of meat and cheese vegan analogues, while still low or moderate, tend to be higher than their animal‐based counterparts which have lower or no glycaemic responses. Further research on the GIs and GLs of more vegan foods is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to assess the fatty acid (FA) composition of abdominal subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (ASAT and VAT, respectively) in the UK Biobank imaging cohort (N = 33,823) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: We measured the fractions of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated FA (fSFA, fMUFA, and fPUFA, respectively) in ASAT and VAT from multiecho MRI scans. We selected a subcohort of participants who followed a vegan and an omnivore diet (N = 36) to validate the effect of diet on adipose tissue. In the wider imaging cohort, we examined the relationships between adipose tissue FA composition and various traits related to disease and body size. Results: We measured adipose tissue FA composition for over 33,000 participants, revealing higher fSFA and fPUFA and lower fMUFA in VAT (p < 0.00016). fMUFA and fPUFA were higher in ASAT and lower in VAT for women (p < 0.00016). Vegan participants exhibited lower fSFA in both ASAT and VAT (p < 0.00016). VAT fSFA and fMUFA showed significant associations with disease, as well as anthropometric variables. Conclusions: This extensive analysis revealed the relationships between adipose tissue FA composition and a range of factors in a diverse population, highlighting the importance of studying body adipose tissue beyond its quantity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of urban development and the migration of rural inhabitants to cities resulted in the loss of direct contact with the production of food of animal origin among the non-agricultural population, who associate its origin with the place of purchase. At the same time, the loosening of social bonds typical of city man (Homo civitas), reduced fertility and, consequently, unmet social needs, resulted in an increase in the number of kept companion animals that fulfill people's instinctive need for socialization. In many cases, dogs and cats have been given the status of family members. This shortening of the distance between humans and animals led to the humanization of animals and popularization of veganism and vegetarianism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The current food production and consumption patterns are highly relevant for the exceedance of the planetary boundaries. Also in Germany food consumption is responsible for high environmental impacts as several studies already showed. However, not all relevant impact categories have yet been quantified for German food consumption, and also the reduction potential due to changes in dietary patterns is not fully assessed. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyse the environmental impacts of German food consumption with respect to impacts on climate change, biodiversity and water, and to build three scenarios for a German planetary health diet in order to identify reduction potentials. Methods: The analysis has been conducted using life cycle assessment (LCA) according to ISO 14040 series. The modelling is based on the average German food basket at consumption level and the functional unit chosen is the food consumption for 1 year for all German citizens—the German food basket. The environmental impacts assessed within this study are greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and water scarcity, as well as land use and related impacts on terrestrial biodiversity. Furthermore, based on the current diet ('status quo'), three scenarios for Germany were created following the recommendations for a planetary health diet for a flexitarian, a vegetarian and a vegan diet. The scenarios were kept as close as possible to the current diet in Germany, framed by a set of rules. Results and discussion: The results show, that today, each person in Germany consumes on average about 2650 kcal per person and day and thus 6% more than recommended in food-based dietary guidelines developed in the planetary health diet and about 25% more than recommended in the German guidelines. This finding correlates with the fact that over 50% of German inhabitants are overweight and almost a fifth (18.5%) is obese. Regarding the global environmental impacts caused by German food consumption, 216,000 kt CO2e are emitted (of which 46,000 kt CO2e result from dLUC), 166,000 km2 of land is occupied each year, resulting in a biodiversity impact of 12,300 BVI*km2*a and 2.401 km3 of irrigation water is consumed, which causes a water scarcity footprint of 118.6 km3worldeq. The results confirm findings of previous studies regarding climate impacts, direct land use change and occupation, and add new findings regarding water scarcity and biodiversity impacts. Furthermore, results show reduction potentials due to changes in dietary patterns. It is interesting to note that all assessed environmental impacts, including biodiversity impacts, are highly dependent on the share of animal foods in the diet, with the exception of water consumption and water footprint. It is mainly caused by plant-based foods and strongly influenced by the origin of the plant-based products, but also by the water demand of the crop itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some animal defenders are committed to complete abstinence from animal products. However the strongest arguments for adopting veganism only seem to require that one avoid using animal products, where use or procurement of these products will harm sentient animals. As such, there is seemingly a gap between our intuition and our argument. In this article I attempt to defend the more comprehensive claim that we have a moral reason to avoid using animal products, regardless of the method of procurement. I argue that animal bodies give rise to properties which grant sentient animals' moral status and in light of this, animal bodies possess final value in themselves. This final value gives us a moral reason not to commodify animal bodies, which means we have a defeasible reason to abstain from using animal products in almost all circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. This cross‐sectional survey study aimed to examine the association between vegetarian diet consumption and sleep quality, academic performance, and health‐related quality of life among female undergraduate college students. Method. A sample of 158 undergraduate female college students was recruited using a convenience sampling approach. Data collection utilized reliable and validated English‐language instruments including the Vegetarian Quality of Life Questionnaire (VEGQOL), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and health‐related quality of life scale (HRQoL). The data were analyzed using one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and appropriate descriptive statistics. Results. Vegetarians exhibited a significantly lower BMI compared to nonvegetarians (F (1, 156) = [6.09], p = 0.015). Those strictly adhering to a vegan diet (48.79 ± 9.41) had the lowest vegetarian quality of life among all participants following various forms of a vegetarian diet (F (3, 68) = [2.78], p = 0.04). The majority of female college students reported good to excellent general health (91.7%), with 53.2% perceiving their sleep quality as fairly good. However, the mean PSQI global score of 8.04 (±3.35) indicated poor sleep quality. No significant association was found between diet type (vegetarian vs. nonvegetarian) and academic performance (cGPA) (χ2 (4, N = 158) = 2.92, p = 0.57). There was no significant relationship between diet types and academic performance, HRQoL, and sleep quality. Conclusion. Despite a significant association between vegetarian diet and lower BMI, surprisingly, no substantial relationships were identified between diet type and academic performance, HRQoL, and sleep quality. These findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on the potential impacts of a vegetarian diet on various facets of female college students' well‐being and highlight the need for further exploration in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two major determining factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are genetics and lifestyle. Alleles of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene play important roles in the development of late-onset AD, with APOEɛ4 increasing risk, APOEɛ3 being neutral, and APOEɛ2 reducing risk. Several modifiable lifestyle factors have been studied in terms of how they can modify the risk of AD. Among these factors are dietary pattern, nutritional supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, and B vitamins, physical exercise, and obesity, and vitamin D. The Western diet increases risk of AD, while dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean and vegetarian/vegan diets reduce risk. Foods associated with reduced risk include coffee, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes, and fish, while meat and ultraprocessed foods are associated with increased risk, especially when they lead to obesity. In multi-country ecological studies, the amount of meat in the national diet has the highest correlation with risk of AD. The history of research regarding dietary patterns on risk of AD is emphasized in this review. The risk of AD can be modified starting at least by mid-life. People with greater genetic risk for AD would benefit more by choosing lifestyle factors to reduce and/or delay incidence of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging field of prospective life cycle assessment (pLCA) offers opportunities for evaluating the environmental impacts of possible future consumption shifts. One such shift involves a transition from meat‐based to plant‐forward diets, acknowledged to mitigate environmental impacts of the food system under present day conditions. Current diets are often meat intensive (“meat‐based”), whilst “plant‐forward” diets include mainly plant‐based foods, encompassing flexitarian, vegetarian, and vegan diets. Here we illustrate the application of pLCA in a case study of meal options, implementing shared socio‐economic pathway scenarios in the LCA background system to represent future production conditions. We assess the climate footprints and land‐based biodiversity footprints of a typical meat‐based meal in Germany and Indonesia compared to a plant‐forward meal in both countries (i.e., four meals), now and in 2050. Our findings show that the plant‐forward alternative maintains a lower impact per serving in all future scenarios. At the same time, the reduction in impact for the meat‐based meals is more pronounced in future scenarios due to shifts in the agricultural system. Our findings highlight the importance of supply‐side measures to produce lower‐impact ingredients, complementing demand‐side interventions to reshape food consumption. Results are further evaluated in cultural and nutritional contexts, highlighting the practical decision‐making constraints faced by consumers. We find potential “leakage” effects in calories and nutrition when choosing a lower‐impact, plant‐forward meal. These leakage effects should be considered in future studies seeking to evaluate the environmental implications of meal substitutions in the context of broader dietary requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural conventions are central to tackling unsustainable consumption. In the Global North food conventions are increasingly contested due to the political importance of climate change and the share of global greenhouse gas emissions tied to animal food production and consumption. Significant reductions in meat consumption are touted as pathways to adaptation, but most consumers remain committed to consuming meat-based meals and diets with meat. To explore how consumers handle these issues in today's cultural context, this article examines culturally appropriate ways of rejecting meat reduction. The theoretical framework is based on interactionism and accounts. The empirical material is from focus group discussions with Danish consumers. We find that in discussions about using plant-based meat, norms of proper culinary conduct are held to be more pressing guides for normative assessment than climate impacts. We also show that the status and function of climate impact "knowledge" is complex and ambiguous. A shared social knowledge of the climate impacts of meat consumption appears to exist alongside "questionable knowledge" and "lack of knowledge", both of which are referred to excuse, justify, and charge others in reasoning supporting continued meat consumption. Knowledge of climate impacts is accepted when it fits cultural conventions but appears less knowable if it poses challenges to contemporary consumer culture. The article contributes insights into the ways in which cultural conventions and complex knowledge negotiations help to preserve unsustainable consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In response to the growing interest in plant‐based alternatives and vegan diets, this study aimed to develop novel sweet potato‐based vegan protein bars enriched with rice protein (RP) as an alternative protein source. The vegan protein bars (VPBs) formulated with varying RP content (0–32 g) were evaluated for nutritional, textural, microstructural and sensory properties. Nutritional analysis revealed a proportional increase in protein content (8.94%–21.77%) and energy value (310.29–353.32 kcal/100 g) with increasing RP content. The progressive inclusion of RP significantly (P < 0.05) improved the textural properties of VPBs, notably increasing cohesiveness (0.07%–0.60%), chewiness (8.71–105.02 g) and firmness (1453.80–3444.03 kg cm−2), with all VPBs receiving favourable sensory evaluation scores. Importantly, all VPBs received favourable sensory scores. Microstructural analysis revealed the mechanism for textural enhancement in enriched VPBs, indicating a positive correlation between higher RP content and the number and size of surface clumps. Amino acid profiling indicated over 50% increases in valine content and essential amino acid scores in enriched VPBs compared to those without RP. Moreover, protein‐enriched VPBs exhibited superior antioxidant activity. In conclusion, these findings suggest the potential of sweet potato and RP in developing VPBs, highlighting the value of plant‐based ingredients in vegan food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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For athletes, iron plays an important role in improving oxygen supply, energy production, muscle function, and cognitive performance. However, iron deficiency is a common problem in athletes, especially endurance athletes, due to factors such as increased iron loss due to exercise-induced sweating, hematuria, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Exercise induces hematological adaptations due to increased demand of oxygen transport as well as inflammation, which reduces the ability to absorb iron post-exercise. Iron deficiency can lead to fatigue, reduced performance, poorer recovery and increased susceptibility to infections. Iron absorption is tightly regulated to prevent toxicity, with hepcidin playing a central role. Elevated hepcidin levels, which are influenced by exercise-induced inflammation and circadian rhythms, can significantly reduce iron absorption. In addition, the bioavailability of dietary iron varies, with heme iron from animal products being more readily absorbed than non-heme iron from plant sources. Athletes on a vegetarian or vegan diet may require increased iron intake to meet their needs. Monitoring iron status through regular blood tests, including serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels, is critical for early detection and treatment of iron deficiency. Strategies to improve iron absorption include consuming iron-rich foods with promoters such as vitamin C, while inhibitors such as phytates and calcium should be avoided. In cases of significant deficiency, supplementation under medical supervision may be necessary. Understanding these factors and using appropriate nutritional and monitoring practices can help athletes maintain optimal iron levels and overall performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing world population and vegan diet, there has been increasing consumer demand for alternative protein sources. A substitute for animal proteins is the plant protein, for instance, leaves. The Pereskia aculeata, known as ora-pro-nóbis, is undoubtedly a leafy vegetable with great potential due to its relatively high protein content (17 to 28%). This study aimed to produce ora-pro-nóbis protein concentrate (OPNPC) from ora-pro-nóbis leaves flour (OPNF) by isoelectric precipitation at three different pH's (3.5, 4.0, and 4.5). The protein extraction by precipitation in different pHs produced OPNPC with protein content and extraction yield ranging from 52 to 55% and 1–4%, respectively. Given the highest yield, the concentrate obtained at pH 3.5 (OPNPC3.5) was selected for further investigation and comparison to OPNF. The differences in color, techno-functional properties, in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD), and structural properties were evaluated. Most techno-functional properties were statistically higher in OPNPC3.5 than in OPNF. These included its water solubility, oil holding capacity, foam capacity and stability, and emulsifying activity and stability. OPNPC3.5 had a higher IVPD (80%) than flour (77%). Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed distinct compositions of materials, which can explain the difference in techno-functional properties. The findings indicate controlling protein extraction conditions as a useful technique to maximize the yield of protein concentrate obtained from ora-pro-nóbis, which was more nutritious and had better techno-functional properties than flour. This demonstrates its potential as an alternative plant-based protein to design healthy and sustainable food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetarian diets are plant-based diets including all the edible foods from the Plant Kingdom, such as grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. Dairy and eggs can be added in small amounts in the lacto-ovo-vegetarian subtype, or not at all in the vegan subtype. The abundance of non-processed plant foods—typical of all well-planned diets, including vegetarian ones—can provide the body with numerous protective factors (fiber, phytocompounds), while limiting the intake of harmful nutrients like saturated fats, heme-iron, and cholesterol. The beneficial effects on health of this balance have been reported for many main chronic diseases, in both observational and intervention studies. The scientific literature indicates that vegetarians have a lower risk of certain types of cancer, overall cancer, overweight-obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and vascular diseases. Since the trend of following a vegetarian diet is increasing among citizens of developed countries, the knowledge in the field will benefit from further studies confirming the consistency of these findings and clarifying the effects of vegetarian diets on other controversial topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Joona Räsänen argues that vegans ought to be anti-natalists and therefore abstain from having children. More precisely, Räsänen claims that vegans who accept a utilitarian or rights-based argument for veganism, ought to, by parity of reasoning, accept an analogous argument for anti-natalism. In this paper, I argue that the reasons vegans have for refraining from purchasing animal products do not commit them to abstaining from having children. I provide novel arguments to the following conclusion: while there is good reason to believe that factory farming results in a net disutility and involves treating non-human animals as mere means, there is not good reason to believe that having children results in a net disutility or involves treating the children as mere means. Subsequently, I respond to what I take to be Räsänen's underlying reasoning—that vegans are committed to abstaining from other practices which cause unnecessary suffering. I respond by arguing that this is plausibly false as various practices which cause unnecessary suffering are likely permissible, whereas factory farming is not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The beneficial effects of a plant-based diet on gut microbiota diversity are well documented, however, its impact on clinical bowel health and defecation patterns are less well understood. Vegetarian diets have been associated with a higher bowel movement (BM) frequency as well as softer stools in cross-sectional studies. The effects of the de-novo adoption of a vegan diet on bowel health, however, have never been investigated in a randomized-controlled trial. Materials and Methods: The present study examined bowel health and defecation patterns in relation to diet and nutrient intake in a young and healthy sample of n = 65 physically-active German university students who were randomly assigned to either a vegan or a meat-rich diet for eight weeks. Bowel health assessment included the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) and the Cleveland Clinic Fecal Incontinence Score (CC FIS). Nutrient intake was assessed using weighed food diaries. The study was prospectively registered at the German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS00031541). Results: Weekly BM frequency slightly increased in vegans, whereas it remained unaltered in participants assigned to a meat-rich diet. Fiber intake increased significantly in vegans (34.89 (18.46) g/d) whereas it decreased in those assigned to the meat-rich group (22.79 (12.5) g/d). No significant intergroup differences in BSFS and CC FIS patterns were observed. Adoption of a vegan diet neither resulted in a transient increase in abdominal discomfort nor in a decreased gastrointestinal quality of life, which was comparable across the diet groups. Conclusions: The short-term de-novo adoption of a vegan diet did not negatively affect markers of bowel health in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article takes as its point of departure an event in which a plant-based version of the space alien, the Extra-Terrestrial (‘E.T.’), from the science fiction film bearing its name, was barbecued and served as a meal to participants at a conference. The soy dish produced different reactions: some laughed, while others seemed appalled. These different sentiments provide the basis for a broad green cultural criminology analysis of the traditions of meat-eating, tracing its role in human history and in the barbecue. The purpose of this is to explore why humans treat different categories of animals so differently. To understand the reactions the meal produced, the article addresses two contrasting aspects of the human–non-human animal relationship—‘carnism’ and ‘pet-keeping’—and contemplates these in relation to the reactions to eating E.T. The goal is to expand on the study of the human–animal relationship, particularly speciesism—understood as ideology and practice that legitimise and produce animal abuse through the analytical concept categorical discriminatory speciesism.

Background : Geroscience focuses on interventions to mitigate molecular changes associated with aging. Lifestyle modifications, medications, and social factors influence the aging process, yet the complex molecular mechanisms require an in-depth exploration of the epigenetic landscape. The specific epigenetic clock and predictor effects of a vegan diet, compared to an omnivorous diet, remain underexplored despite potential impacts on aging-related outcomes. Methods: This study examined the impact of an entirely plant-based or healthy omnivorous diet over 8 weeks on blood DNA methylation in paired twins. Various measures of epigenetic age acceleration (PC GrimAge, PC PhenoAge, DunedinPACE) were assessed, along with system-specific effects (Inflammation, Heart, Hormone, Liver, and Metabolic). Methylation surrogates of clinical, metabolite, and protein markers were analyzed to observe diet-specific shifts. Results: Distinct responses were observed, with the vegan cohort exhibiting significant decreases in overall epigenetic age acceleration, aligning with anti-aging effects of plant-based diets. Diet-specific shifts were noted in the analysis of methylation surrogates, demonstrating the influence of diet on complex trait prediction through DNA methylation markers. An epigenome-wide analysis revealed differentially methylated loci specific to each diet, providing insights into the affected pathways. Conclusions: This study suggests that a short-term vegan diet is associated with epigenetic age benefits and reduced calorie intake. The use of epigenetic biomarker proxies (EBPs) highlights their potential for assessing dietary impacts and facilitating personalized nutrition strategies for healthy aging. Future research should explore the long-term effects of vegan diets on epigenetic health and overall well-being, considering the importance of proper nutrient supplementation. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT05297825 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine changes in public discourse and attitude toward animal-derived and vegan alternative materials and to confirm the acceptability of vegan fashion materials. Vegan alternative materials for animal-derived materials (fur, down, leather, silk, and wool) were selected based on actual internet search keyword volume. A total of 313,618 tweets were collected, which were about individual materials. Sentiment analysis was binary classified using a deep learning-based BERT model. Structural indicators of the discourse network were collected, and correlation analysis was conducted between changes in network structural indicators and changes in consumer attitudes. Consumers’ attitudes were different even with the same animal-derived or artificial-based material. In the application of vegan fashion, wellon and polyester/acrylic were the most appropriate materials in vegan fashion, and fur was the most challenging material. This study explains vegan fashion materials’ challenges and suggests practical marketing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Vegetarianism is an eating pattern centred on plant-based food. It encompasses many diets that differ in terms of whether they contain goods originating from animals, like milk and eggs. Nowadays, vegetarianism is increasing in popularity in developed nations, particularly in Europe. Individuals choose vegetarian diets for reasons related to health, ethics, or ecology. The rising popularity of vegetarian diets is not limited to adults but is also increasing among children. This trend can be linked to both parental choices and the personal decisions of adolescents. Aim of the study: Vegetarian diets are generally considered to be beneficial for health. However, there are concerns over the ability to meet the dietary requirements necessary during infancy, youth, and adolescence on a vegetarian diet. Therefore, the primary aim of this systematic review is to answer questions about the efficacy of a plant-based diet in meeting the nutritional requirements of children and how to avoid the risk of nutritional deficiencies among vegetarian children. Material and methods: This article provides an overview of the current literature about the vegetarian diet in children. The information has been collected from a comprehensive search of electronic databases, scientific journals, and statement papers published by nutrition and paediatric organisations. Results: Following a vegetarian diet can be a beneficial decision for all children, assuming that it is properly organised and well balanced. It is important to be aware of the higher risk of deficiency in plant-based diet compared to an omnivorous. The majority of paediatric and nutrition organisations do not recommend more strict diets for children, such as a vegan diet, which fully excludes not only meat but all animal products. While it is possible to plan a vegan diet that meets children's requirements for nutrients, it is challenging, and mistakes might result in significant and long-term health consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that food is a critical factor for a healthy population, social media analysis of discussions about this area is very important to understanding people's behavior. This research aimed to identify the main areas of communication about healthy food, including sentiment identification, on the social network Twitter (now X). We achieved this aim by analyzing 828,963 Tweets posted from 1 April 2018 to 17 April 2023 based on a dataset that included all Tweets containing the hashtag "#healthyfood" or the phrase "healthy food." This study extends previous research that focused only on hashtags and did not include all messages about healthy food. The results identified five main communication areas, namely (1) Inspiring, (2) Access to healthy food for children and youth, (3) Expenditure on healthy food, (4) Homemade food, and (5) Vegan/vegetarian diet, of which the second and third areas were not identified in previous research due to selective analysis focusing only on hashtags. These two communities had the highest negative sentiment of the top 10 communities, suggesting that these issues require attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veganism is becoming more popular as the social, environmental, and ethical impacts of animal agriculture become better known. This is creating new opportunities and challenges as an array of economic actors seek to profit from and contribute to the movement. In this paper, we analyse how small plant-based food businesses are engaging with and influencing vegan politics through a case study of Sydney, Australia. Through interviews and an online audit, we analyse the motivations, goals and practices of small businesses; their geographies, inclusions and exclusions; and the benefits and tensions that arise from the merging of business with politics. We find evidence that small businesses are actively and creatively engaged in quiet, collaborative, affirmative and visceral forms of activism that prefigure the skills, ingredients, tastes and knowledge required to transition away from animal agriculture. However, we also find that plant-based businesses avoid the term vegan, are becoming whiter, and are producing more masculine and expensive foods, such as meat analogues, in response to market pressures. We conclude that small businesses are important but overlooked actors within vegan politics that are contributing to race, gender and class biases, and should be engaged with in the pursuit of less exploitative food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: vegan diets are currently an essential topic of discussion because they are recognized as a prototype of a healthy diet but are also associated with deficits in the intake of critical nutrients such as protein. Evaluating the factors that influence the deficit in their intake in vulnerable populations such as university students represents an important topic of interest, considering that this is one of the groups where veganism is most popular. Given this, the present study aimed to determine the degree of protein sufficiency and its associated factors in a sample of Chilean vegan university students. Materials and methods: an exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted on 114 vegan university students who responded to an online survey on academic, attitudinal, clinical, dietary, and sociodemographic variables. Protein intake was calculated, and based on self-reported weight, daily protein adequacy was calculated according to the recommendation of 0.9 g/kg/day. Finally, the association between protein adequacy and previously consulted variables was calculated by determining the odds ratios. Results: only 53.5 % had adequate daily protein intake, which was associated with the length of time respondents had been vegan (OR, 2.86; 95 % CI, 1.07 to 7.34; p < 0.05), use of supplements (OR, 5.24; 95 % CI, 1.17 to 25.2; p < 0.05), and the frequency with which they ate lunch at home (OR, 87.7; 95 % CI, 24.1 to 304; p = 0.000). Conclusion: there needs to be more protein adequacy in the assessed sample. Protein adequacy is associated with the length of time on the vegan diet, frequency of eating lunch away from home, and use of supplements regularly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although vegetarian and vegan (veg*an) diets can have various health, environmental and animal welfare benefits, they remain socially contentious. Despite the fundamentally social nature of eating, in situ investigations of the social-interactional elements of dietary identities have so far been lacking. Using a recently developed remotely moderated focus group design, we explore (across 25 discussions involving 122 participants) the discursive management of veg*an ‘identity flashpoints’ during discussion with meat-eaters. Our discursive analyses explore how these moments in conversation arise and are handled in real-time within the unfolding interaction. We demonstrate how two particularly interactionally consequential features of veg*an accounts of their practice become constructed within these encounters. Firstly, personal accounts of veg*anism are interactionally preferred to moral accounts. Secondly, demonstrating continued liking of meat was necessary to be met with group acceptance among majority meat-eating groups. These features shed light on the social interactional perils of veg*an attempts to engage in persuasion with meat-eaters, particularly those based on moral grounds. Our novel methodology affords detailed analyses of how veg*ans navigate the performance of their identities in their daily interactions with dietary outgroups, providing insight into micro-level processes that might underpin, or hamper, processes of societal change in the dietary domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising popularity of veganism and vegetarianism has attracted significant market attention, yet limited understanding exists regarding consumer perceptions and adoption of these ethical and sustainable lifestyle choices. To address this gap, we conducted a netnographic analysis using Google Trends and HappyCow. Google Trends data found that food and restaurant-related searches predominated, with lower volumes in France, indicating a distinct food culture and potentially less interest in veganism. Australians exhibited higher search frequencies for “vegan,” reflecting a keen interest in vegan food establishments and products. HappyCow data indicated a relatively more significant number of vegan outlets in Australia. This study provides cross-cultural insights into consumer information-seeking behavior regarding veganism, highlighting the availability of vegan choices in diverse food settings and influencing factors for plant-based alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moralized minority actors can play important roles in social change processes by rejecting majority social norms and modeling alternative societal pathways. However, being a minority actor can be difficult, often resulting in stigma, derogation, and hostility from the majority group. For actions intrinsically linked with daily life (e.g., eating), such social obstacles might become so great that individuals acting alone experience activist burnout' and social isolation, and may stop pursuing social change altogether. Event‐based interventions are a promising (yet currently understudied) avenue for ameliorating these negative consequences and maintaining minority‐driven social change. Through on‐site field interviews (N = 20), we explore how attending an identity‐centering mass gathering (“The Vegan Campout”) acts to validate and empower a minority group (vegans) seeking social change. We show how the event functioned as a space where vegan identity, food, and action were centered and celebrated, in stark contrast to vegans' experiences of a majority meat‐eating society, where they often experienced negativity. Experiencing a 'temporary social majority' context provided important respite for vegans to gain strength, rekindle their vegan identities, and (re)affirm their commitment to activism. Our findings provide insight into the benefits of identity‐centering events for sustaining social change efforts among moralized minority groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper suggests looking at veganism as a set of knowledge that produces and reproduces habitual food practices and changes in semiotic habits and the meanings attached to foods. A semiotic analysis of veganism as a system of knowledge suggests its being a translated text that recognizes scientific and medical knowledge and the non-vegan alimentary system. However, it reconfigures them by communicating a series of signs whose meanings reverse those suggested by omnivores. The identification of signs that constitute the vegan knowledge enables me to look at veganism as complex system, in which syntagmatic and associative relationships are not fully determined (Barthes [1984]. Elements of Semiology. New York: Hill and Wang). Although contesting the essentiality of animal-based foods, vegan meals suggest two overlapping approaches to meals. In one, the plant-based protein serves as the centrepiece of the meal, imitating conventional meals. The other offers an alternative meal structure, in which syntagmatic relations are constructed as a sequence of daily meals, each consisting of an aggregation of simultaneously served dishes out of which diners construct their own repast, thus broadening the scope of associative relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around the world, the market for plant‐derived beverages is one of the fastest‐expanding segments in the functional and specialty beverage areas of newer food product development. Consumers are increasingly likely to choose alternatives to bovine beverages due to factors including lactose intolerance, hypercholesterolemia prevalence, allergies to bovine beverages, and preference for vegan diets that contain functionally active ingredients with health‐promoting characteristics. Due to health, ecological, and ethical concerns, many customers are interested in reducing their usage of animal products like bovine milk. A variety of plant‐based beverage substitutes are being created by the food sector as a result. To create viable alternatives, it is first necessary to provide an overview of the chemical composition, structure, features, and nutritional attributes of ordinary bovine milk. Sensory acceptability in the case of substitutes for beverages made from legumes is a significant barrier to their widespread acceptance, and thus saliva acts as a sophisticated fluid that serves a variety of purposes in the cavity of the mouth. Designing and producing next‐generation plant‐based beverages that mimic the physicochemical and functional qualities of conventional bovine‐based beverages is gaining popularity, and many of these products can be thought of as colloidal materials that contain the particles or polymers that give them their unique qualities NG‐PB foods can have a wide range of rheological qualities, such as fluids with low viscosity (such as plant‐based beverages), high‐viscosity liquids (like creams), soft liquids (like yogurt), as well as hard solids (such as some cheeses). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People switch to vegetarian or vegan diets for ethical, ecological, religious or healthbased motivations. There are many variations of the vegetarian diet. However, although these diet types have different limits, it is seen that animal food consumption is limited as a common point, and it is completely abolished in some nutrition types. Vegetarian and vegan individuals, whose numbers are increasing day by day, can be exposed to various negative situations, especially by individuals who do not follow this diet. There are behavioral, biological, environmental, genetic or psychological risk factors. Experiencing situations such as mobbing, threats, pressure, insults, violence or future anxiety can cause the psychology of the individual to be negatively affected, and as a result, various risk factors such as stress and depression may occur. There are many studies on vegetarian and vegan individuals in the literature. However, it has been observed that the psychosocial risks experienced by individuals who adopt a vegan lifestyle are limited in number. The aim of the study is to reveal the psychosocial risk factors experienced by individuals who adopt a vegan lifestyle. The research is a qualitative study, and the research data were accessed in the light of the information obtained from vegan and vegetarian individual through semi-structured interview method. Within the scope of the study, it was determined that the participants most frequently faced the risk factors of marginalization in the individual category, family pressure in the family category and attrition/burnout in the environmental category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The black sapote (Diospyros digyna) is a Mexican endemic fruit cultivated in several states of the country, however, despite its production, it is wasted in different locations specifically in the state of Puebla, including Rafael Lara Grajales municipality. The objective of this article was to identify three different samples of vegan breads for the use of this fruit, to evaluate their acceptability in school children (6-12 years old) living in that location. This was achieved through sensory evaluation with a 5-point hedonic scale. The inclusion of an underutilized ingredient, such as black sapote, in their diet expands the variety of foods available to them. This article is based on a mixed, experimental, cross-sectional methodology with an exploratory and descriptive scope, using a documentary and field technique. The ANOVA statistical test and the Tukey test were carried out to evaluate the attributes of each bread evaluated, using the Minitab software version 18. The results showed that there was no significant difference p < 0.05 between the three samples, that is, all were sensorially accepted by the untrained panelist school children of Valentín Gómez Farías elementary school in the municipality of Rafael Lara Grajales, Puebla. The attributes of taste, aroma, color, shape and texture did not show significant differences in bread preference, despite the presence of sapote, which is not commonly consumed in the region. The texture, shape and taste were the most liked aspects of the hojaldra (traditional bread for the day of the dead in Mexico), while aroma and color were the least favored. The students favored the color, aroma, and taste of the conchas (fluffy bread with butter topping), but did not prefer their texture and shape. Similarly, the rolls were preferred for their aroma and shape, but were not the top choices in terms of taste, texture, and color. The aroma and taste were the variables with a positive correlation in the evaluated breads. Texture and taste had a low 3.9% positive correlation, and texture and color had a 4.1% correlation across all three samples. An interval graph was also made to determine the most acceptable elements of the breads evaluated, as well as, a multiple correlation to determine the sensorial characteristics with the highest correlation. The most popular bread was the concha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the politics of consumption and Indigenous veganism in Eden Robinson's The Trickster Trilogy. It argues that discussions on decolonization should include the consumption of nonhuman animals and explores the impact of colonialism on land and food relations in the Pacific Northwest. The article discusses different perspectives within Indigenous communities regarding the consumption of nonhuman animals, with some advocating for traditional hunting and fishing practices and others promoting Indigenous veganism as a form of decolonial resistance. It also emphasizes the importance of local food consumption in decolonization efforts and highlights the interconnectedness of violence against women and nonhuman animals. The article further explores the colonial politics of consumption, including the subjugation of Indigenous peoples and nonhuman animals, the role of animal agriculture in colonization, and the environmental and social injustices associated with the food system. It delves into the concept of food decolonization and the revitalization of traditional food practices, as well as Indigenous perspectives on the consumption of other-than-human animals. The article concludes by examining the interconnected nature of violence against women and nonhuman animals and the role of consumption habits in decolonial narratives. The Trickster Trilogy by Eden Robinson explores the themes of consumption and food decolonization through the perspectives of Indigenous characters. The novels feature Indigenous vegan characters, challenging the notion that veganism is incompatible with Indigeneity. The characters' consumption choices reflect their decolonial ideologies and their desire to live in harmony with nonhuman animals. The novels also shed light [Extracted from the article]

Making intersectional interventions within ecofeminism and rhetorical studies, this essay examines Black women’s vegan rhetoric on the website Black Vegans Rock! We argue that Black women’s vegan rhetoric includes two primary themes. First, their vegan rhetoric reveals how Black women find healing and love through veganism. In a world that shows little compassion for their needs, Black women turn to veganism to embrace radical acts of self-love and heal from trauma caused by misogynoir. Second, their vegan rhetoric underscores the challenges of Black women’s self-identification. Black women must navigate the whiteness of vegan spaces and restrictive social norms involving their body and hair, creating hurdles for Black women’s existence in both mainstream (white) vegan movements and Black communities. Through our analysis, we chart Black women’s decolonial ecological practices, which continue to go substantially understudied in ecofeminist and rhetorical studies scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer are the two main leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Suboptimal diet, poor in vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grain, and rich in processed and red meat, refined grains, and added sugars, is a primary modifiable risk factor. Based on health, economic and ethical concerns, plant-based diets have progressively widespread worldwide. Objective: This umbrella review aims at assessing the impact of animal-free and animal-products-free diets (A/APFDs) on the risk factors associated with the development of cardiometabolic diseases, cancer and their related mortalities. Data sources: PubMed and Scopus were searched for reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published from 1st January 2000 to 31st June 2023, written in English and involving human subjects of all ages. Primary studies and reviews/meta-analyses based on interventional trials which used A/APFDs as a therapy for people with metabolic diseases were excluded. Data extraction: The umbrella review approach was applied for data extraction and analysis. The revised AMSTAR-R 11-item tool was applied to assess the quality of reviews/meta-analyses. Results: Overall, vegetarian and vegan diets are significantly associated with better lipid profile, glycemic control, body weight/BMI, inflammation, and lower risk of ischemic heart disease and cancer. Vegetarian diet is also associated with lower mortality from CVDs. On the other hand, no difference in the risk of developing gestational diabetes and hypertension were reported in pregnant women following vegetarian diets. Study quality was average. A key limitation is represented by the high heterogeneity of the study population in terms of sample size, demography, geographical origin, dietary patterns, and other lifestyle confounders. Conclusions: Plant-based diets appear beneficial in reducing cardiometabolic risk factors, as well as CVDs, cancer risk and mortality. However, caution should be paid before broadly suggesting the adoption of A/AFPDs since the strength-of-evidence of study results is significantly limited by the large study heterogeneity alongside the potential risks associated with potentially restrictive regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent study (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265662), associations were identified between owner-reported dog health status and diet, whereby those fed a vegan diet were perceived to be healthier. However, the study was limited because it did not consider possible confounding from variables not included in the analysis. The aim of the current study was to extend these earlier findings, using different modelling techniques and including multiple variables, to identify the most important predictors of owner perceptions of dog health. From the original dataset, two binary outcome variables were created: the 'any health problem' distinguished dogs that owners perceived to be healthy ("no") from those perceived to have illness of any severity; the 'significant illness' variable distinguished dogs that owners perceived to be either healthy or having mild illness ("no") from those perceived to have significant or serious illness ("yes"). Associations between these health outcomes and both owner-animal metadata and healthcare variables were assessed using logistic regression and machine learning predictive modelling using XGBoost. For the any health problem outcome, best-fit models for both logistic regression (area under curve [AUC] 0.842) and XGBoost (AUC 0.836) contained the variables dog age, veterinary visits and received medication, whilst owner age and breed size category also featured. For the significant illness outcome, received medication, veterinary visits, dog age and were again the most important predictors for both logistic regression (AUC 0.903) and XGBoost (AUC 0.887), whilst breed size category, education and owner age also featured in the latter. Any contribution from the dog vegan diet variable was negligible. The results of the current study extend the previous research using the same dataset and suggest that diet has limited impact on owner-perceived dog health status; instead, dog age, frequency of veterinary visits and receiving medication are most important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]