29 July 2009

ADA endorses vegetarian diet

Wahroonga, New South Wales
Melody Tan

The American Dietetic Association (ADA) has released an updated position paper on vegetarian diets. The 12-page paper supports a vegetarian diet, using research and reports to prove its benefits.

The revised position paper incorporates new topics and additional information on key nutrients for vegetarians, vegetarian diets in the life cycle, and the use of vegetarian diets in prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.

According to the paper, published in July, "It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately-planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases."

It purports that "well-planned vegan, lacto-vegetarian and lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy and lactation."

Using evidence-based reviews, including published studies of Seventh-day Adventist communities, the paper showed that there are significant health benefits related to vegetarian diets. These include a lower risk of death from heart disease, lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes than non-vegetarians. Vegetarians also tend to have a lower body mass index and lower overall cancer rates.

Seventh-day Adventist sources cited in the paper include data from the Adventist Health Study, and studies by Dr Gary Fraser, Dr Noel Brathwaite and Arnold Vang between 1993 and 2008.

ADA's position and accompanying paper were written by Dr Winston Craig, professor and chair of the department of nutrition and wellness at Andrews University; and Dr Reed Mangels, nutrition advisor at the Vegetarian Resource Group, Baltimore.

The Dietitians Association of Australia will be adopting the position paper for its own purposes.

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