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Abstract
Objective
We evaluated the nutrient adequacy of a well-planned supplemented whole-food plant-based (WFPB) diet as a component of an ongoing community lifestyle optimization program. We investigated the contributions of nutrients from foods and supplements and plant-based meal replacement (SMR) separately (foods, SMR) and combined (vs recommendations) as well as food group intake, both according to sex.
Method
Our cross-sectional study included 151 healthy, active participants (aged 39.6 years) who were on a Western-type diet when they voluntarily joined our WFPB lifestyle program (0.5–10 years ago). We assessed diet using 3-day weighed dietary records (foods, S, and MR). After we standardized nutrient intake to 2000 kcal/d, we calculated the contribution of macro- and micronutrients from foods and SMR separately and combined (foods + SMR) (vs central European Recommendations), as well as food group intake, both according to sex.
Results
All macro- and micronutrient intake (total: from foods plus SMR) exceeded the reference values, except for calcium (95% and 82% in females and males) and vitamin D (both sexes, in summertime). Compared with male participants, female participants consumed (i.e., from foods and SMR together) significantly larger amounts of 23 (/25) micronutrients (8 [/25] from foods and 22 [/25] from SMR). The diet was primarily composed of the following (by mass in descending order): unprocessed vegetables/fruits, whole grains, legumes, potatoes, nuts/seeds, MR, and spices/herbs.
Conclusions
Participants in our WFPB lifestyle program ingested a nutrient-rich WFPB diet and targeted supplementation. The presented ongoing community WFPB lifestyle program ensures a healthy, balanced, and environment-friendly dietary pattern for participants who are compliant.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank all health coaches for their collaboration. We would like to thank Maja Lampe and Katarina Miklavc (MS students at the University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty) for electronic questionnaire input; Barbara Koroušić Seljak from Computer Systems Department, Jožef Štefan Institute, Ljubljana, for her help with managing the Open Platform for Clinical Nutrition database and 3-DR evaluation; Evgen Benedik from the University Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Ljubljana for his help with managing the database with nutrients; and Martina Puc and Meta Galjot from the Res-Pons company for their help with entering all dietary supplements, meal replacements, and medical products form 3-DR into our database. Last, but not least, we would like to show our gratitude to all participants in the study. This work would not have been possible without them.
Disclosure statement
JP, UG, and NFM do not declare any conflict of interest and collaborated as independent researchers. BJ (Barbara Jakše) and SP receive royalty compensation from Herbalife Nutrition, which did not have any role in the design of the study, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data nor in writing the manuscript. BJ (Boštjan Jakše) is BJ (Barbara Jakše)’s spouse and therefore gains income from the same sources.
Author contributions
Conceptualization, BJ and NFM; applied for and Ethics Committee approval, BJ, NFM, and SP; recruited the participants, BJ, BJ (Barbara Jakše), and SP; resources, NFM, BJ, BJ (Barbara Jakše), and NFM; writing – original draft preparation, BJ and NFM; writing – review and editing, BJ, NFM, BJ (Barbara Jakše), JP and SP; statistical analyses and interpretation of data, UG; visualization, BJ, NFM; supervision, NFM and SP; project administration, NFM and BJ (Barbara Jakše); funding acquisition, NFM and BJ (Barbara Jakše). All authors had full access to data and revised and approved the manuscript for publication. Guarantor: BJ, NFM, SP, JP and UG.