Energy and Macronutrient Dietary Intakes of Vegetarian and Semi-Vegetarian Serbian Adults: Data from the EFSA EU Menu Food Consumption Survey (2017–2022)
This study is the first to examine the diet and nutritional status of the adult vegetarian and semi-vegetarian population in Serbia, using data from the EFSA EU Menu Food Consumption Survey 2017–2022. The survey included 314 participants (63 vegans, 192 lacto-ovo vegetarians, 50 pescatarians, and 9...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/8/1285 |
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| author | Ivana Šarac Jelena Milešević Marija Knez Marta Despotović Marija Takić Jasmina Debeljak-Martačić Milica Zeković Agneš Kadvan Mirjana Gurinović |
| author_facet | Ivana Šarac Jelena Milešević Marija Knez Marta Despotović Marija Takić Jasmina Debeljak-Martačić Milica Zeković Agneš Kadvan Mirjana Gurinović |
| author_sort | Ivana Šarac |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study is the first to examine the diet and nutritional status of the adult vegetarian and semi-vegetarian population in Serbia, using data from the EFSA EU Menu Food Consumption Survey 2017–2022. The survey included 314 participants (63 vegans, 192 lacto-ovo vegetarians, 50 pescatarians, and 9 flexitarians), aged 18–74 years (166 women and 148 men, with no gender differences in dietary patterns) across all regions of Serbia. Collected data included anthropometrics (BMI) and intake of energy, macronutrients, and specific food groups (assessed through two 24 h dietary recalls). The study revealed multiple nutritional shortcomings across all three dietary patterns. The most significant was an insufficient protein intake (especially among vegans, but also among non-vegans), connected with an unsatisfactory protein quantity, quality, and availability in plant sources. There was also a high fat intake (particularly from omega-6 and trans-fats-rich sources), especially among non-vegans (but also among vegans), while the intake of omega-3 sources was low. Non-vegans consumed less carbohydrates, fiber, vegetables, and fruit, but more sweets, beverages, and alcohol. Our findings highlight the need for improved nutritional education of vegetarians/semi-vegetarians in Serbia and the development of national food system-based guidelines for this population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-30ca069e4295437d806b9a597064a8b3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-30ca069e4295437d806b9a597064a8b32025-08-20T02:28:36ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-04-01148128510.3390/foods14081285Energy and Macronutrient Dietary Intakes of Vegetarian and Semi-Vegetarian Serbian Adults: Data from the EFSA EU Menu Food Consumption Survey (2017–2022)Ivana Šarac0Jelena Milešević1Marija Knez2Marta Despotović3Marija Takić4Jasmina Debeljak-Martačić5Milica Zeković6Agneš Kadvan7Mirjana Gurinović8Center of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Group for Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCenter of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Group for Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCenter of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Group for Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCenter of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Group for Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCenter of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Group for Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCenter of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Group for Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCenter of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Group for Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCapacity Development in Nutrition CAPNUTRA, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCenter of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Group for Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaThis study is the first to examine the diet and nutritional status of the adult vegetarian and semi-vegetarian population in Serbia, using data from the EFSA EU Menu Food Consumption Survey 2017–2022. The survey included 314 participants (63 vegans, 192 lacto-ovo vegetarians, 50 pescatarians, and 9 flexitarians), aged 18–74 years (166 women and 148 men, with no gender differences in dietary patterns) across all regions of Serbia. Collected data included anthropometrics (BMI) and intake of energy, macronutrients, and specific food groups (assessed through two 24 h dietary recalls). The study revealed multiple nutritional shortcomings across all three dietary patterns. The most significant was an insufficient protein intake (especially among vegans, but also among non-vegans), connected with an unsatisfactory protein quantity, quality, and availability in plant sources. There was also a high fat intake (particularly from omega-6 and trans-fats-rich sources), especially among non-vegans (but also among vegans), while the intake of omega-3 sources was low. Non-vegans consumed less carbohydrates, fiber, vegetables, and fruit, but more sweets, beverages, and alcohol. Our findings highlight the need for improved nutritional education of vegetarians/semi-vegetarians in Serbia and the development of national food system-based guidelines for this population.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/8/1285dietveganvegetariansemi-vegetarianflexitarianpescatarian |
| spellingShingle | Ivana Šarac Jelena Milešević Marija Knez Marta Despotović Marija Takić Jasmina Debeljak-Martačić Milica Zeković Agneš Kadvan Mirjana Gurinović Energy and Macronutrient Dietary Intakes of Vegetarian and Semi-Vegetarian Serbian Adults: Data from the EFSA EU Menu Food Consumption Survey (2017–2022) Foods diet vegan vegetarian semi-vegetarian flexitarian pescatarian |
| title | Energy and Macronutrient Dietary Intakes of Vegetarian and Semi-Vegetarian Serbian Adults: Data from the EFSA EU Menu Food Consumption Survey (2017–2022) |
| title_full | Energy and Macronutrient Dietary Intakes of Vegetarian and Semi-Vegetarian Serbian Adults: Data from the EFSA EU Menu Food Consumption Survey (2017–2022) |
| title_fullStr | Energy and Macronutrient Dietary Intakes of Vegetarian and Semi-Vegetarian Serbian Adults: Data from the EFSA EU Menu Food Consumption Survey (2017–2022) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Energy and Macronutrient Dietary Intakes of Vegetarian and Semi-Vegetarian Serbian Adults: Data from the EFSA EU Menu Food Consumption Survey (2017–2022) |
| title_short | Energy and Macronutrient Dietary Intakes of Vegetarian and Semi-Vegetarian Serbian Adults: Data from the EFSA EU Menu Food Consumption Survey (2017–2022) |
| title_sort | energy and macronutrient dietary intakes of vegetarian and semi vegetarian serbian adults data from the efsa eu menu food consumption survey 2017 2022 |
| topic | diet vegan vegetarian semi-vegetarian flexitarian pescatarian |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/8/1285 |
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