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Omnivorous and plant-based dietary patterns: a comparative analysis using data-driven and index-based approaches

delete2026-07-11
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OA
AI
E
Eduardo Casas-Albertos
N
Noelia María Rodríguez-Martín
Á
Ángela Alcalá-Santiago
B
Beatriz Sarriá
M
Mireia Obón-Santacana
B
Belén García-Villanova
M
María Dolores Ruiz-López
M
Mar Requena-Mullor
A
Ana Jimenez-Zabala
M
Miguel Rodriguez-Barranco
M
María-José Sánchez
A
Adela Castelló-Pastor
E
Esther Molina‐Montes *
DOI:10.1007/s00394-026-04046-zdelete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Plant-based diet (PBD) followers are growing worldwide. The aim was to explore the dietary profile of PBDs, taking the omnivorous (OMN) diet as a reference. A cross-sectional study was carried out. A total of 760 participants were included, of whom 161 self-identified as vegan, ovo-lacto-vegetarian, or pesco-vegetarian. Intakes of 175 foods, assessed through a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), were adjusted for energy intake. The intake of 32 food groups was compared across diet types using Kruskal–Wallis and post-hoc tests. Adherence to established a priori dietary patterns (Pro-vegetarian, Mediterranean, and EAT-Lancet) diet was assessed. A posteriori dietary patterns were characterized using principal component analysis (PCA), k-means and hierarchical clustering, amongst others. Per 1000 kcal, daily mean intakes of legumes (> 48.2 g), vegetables/mushrooms (> 209.9 g), nuts (> 10.2 g), and whole grains (> 24.7 g) were higher in the PBD groups than OMN (p < 0.001). The three a priori dietary indices were inter-correlated (rho = 0.4–0.6) and OMN scored lower than the PBD groups (p < 0.001). PCA revealed a PBD-like pattern (variance: 15.0%), an unhealthy (7.2%), and a mixed animal-PBD pattern (5.5%). The clustering methods identified similar groupings of the PBD participants, and a group of PBD-like OMN (N = 61). The latter, compared with the other OMN patterns, showed significantly lower intakes of milk (48.0 vs. > 95.2 ml), red meat (13.9 vs. > 17.8 g), processed meat (9.0 vs. > 14.0 g), and precooked foods (9.0 vs. > 12.2 g), alongside higher intakes of whole grains (25.5 vs. < 20.8 g), nuts (13.8 vs. < 8.3 g), and vegetables (207.7 vs. < 161.3 g). Thus, food choices between OMN, vegetarians and vegans differ, beyond the exclusion of animal foods. PBDs present common characteristics despite their diversity, and some OMN share these dietary features.
Keywords:
Vegetarian
Vegan
Omnivorous
Diet index
Principal component analysis
Clustering
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Journal

European Journal of Nutrition cover
European Journal of Nutrition
IF:
4.3
Papers:
4.5K
Citations:
1.3W

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Catalan Institute of Oncology
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faculty of pharmacy
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Department of Metabolism and Nutrition
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department of food and health
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bioguipuzkoa health research institute
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national centre for epidemiology
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department of nursing
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