Body composition and nutrient intake of Buddhist vegetarians

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Anthropology

Background:

• Dietary patterns significantly influence body composition and nutrient intake.
• Understanding the specific effects of vegetarian diets, particularly within cultural contexts like Buddhist traditions, is crucial for public health.
• South Korea presents a unique setting to study dietary habits due to its distinct culinary landscape.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the body composition and nutrient intake of Buddhist vegetarians with omnivores in South Korea.
• To investigate the relationship between the duration of vegetarianism and body fat percentage.
• To assess the nutritional adequacy of a traditional Buddhist vegetarian diet.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 54 Buddhist nuns (vegetarians) and 31 Catholic nuns (omnivores) in South Korea.
• Dietary intake assessed using a three-day estimated dietary record.
• Body composition analyzed via segmental multi-frequency-bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Main Results:

• Vegetarians exhibited significantly higher body weight, fat-free mass, body fat, and body mass index (BMI) compared to omnivores, though both groups had normal BMI ranges.
• Body fat in vegetarians was inversely correlated with the duration of their vegetarian diet.
• Nutrient intake status was comparable between groups, with some nutrients being more favorable in vegetarians.

Conclusions:

• Buddhist vegetarian nuns in South Korea demonstrated distinct body composition characteristics compared to omnivores, notably higher body fat.
• Prolonged adherence to a vegetarian diet may lead to reduced body fat levels.
• The Buddhist vegetarian diet provides comparable, and in some aspects superior, nutrient intake relative to an omnivore diet in this population.