素食者飲食行為、營養及健康狀況的相關性調查

本研究主要探討素食者飲食行為與營養及健康狀況的相關性。研究採橫斷式相關性調查，於2008年1月1日至12月31日於台北市北投、士林區進行，共收案249位素食者。研究工具為「國民營養健康狀況變遷調查1993-1996」結構式問卷及營養評估。資料分析主要採用描述性統計、卡方檢定與t檢定等方法進行資料分析。研究結果顯示：(1)素食者每日飲食粗估量以主食類、綠色蔬菜、水果類偏多，奶類偏少，蛋豆類符合國民飲食每日建議量；(2)營養評估顯示素食者血液中同半胱胺酸平均值(14.12±5.23mmol/l)和葉酸平均值(20.67±7.83ng/ml)，顯著高於正常值(p=.000)，其餘與正常檢查結果無差異。蛋素食者之同半胱胺酸值和維他命B12較一般素食者高，而葉酸值較低；(3)有68位(27.9%)素食者具代謝症候群之診斷，另同時有心血管疾病者18位(26.5%)。本研究結果可作為素食者飲食與營養及健康狀況之指引與參考，是預防疾病及促進健康的依據。

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of vegetarian dietary pattern on nutritional adequacy and health status in Taiwan. Across-sectional study was performed during 2008 with 249 adult vegetarians recruited from two districts in Taipei City. A well developed nutritional status assessment questionnaire was used to collect participants' dietary patterns, basic physical examination (body weight, height, blood pressure, and body circumference) for assessing health status, and analyzing fasting blood samples for glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and homocysteine. Descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were employed to investigate the relationships between variables. The survey findings indicated that the participants' diets provided relatively large amounts of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and fewer amounts of dairy products, with only egg and beans metting the national dietary guidance recommended daily amounts. The results of blood tests were within the normal range, except homocysteine (14.12 ± 5.23 mmol/l) and folic acid (20.67± 7.83 ng/ml) were above the normal level (p=.000). Sixty-eight participants (27.9%) met the diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome. The results of this survey delineate the vegetarians' dietary pattern and their nutritional adequacy and health status. The data from this survey should serve as a reference for public health and nursing professionals. It can forma basis for nutrition education programs for vegetarians.