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Individual characteristics associated with changes in the contribution of plant foods to dietary intake in a French prospective cohort

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Abstract

Purpose

Rebalancing the contribution of animal- and plant-based foods is needed to achieve sustainable diet. However, little is known concerning individual characteristics that may influence intake of plant-based foods and their changes over time. We aimed to assess changes in the contribution of plant-based foods to dietary intake over time and their association with individual characteristics.

Methods

The contribution of plant-based foods was assessed by percent energy intake provided by plant proteins in diet (PEIPP) and a score of adherence to a pro-vegetarian diet, using repeated 24-h records in 15,615 French adults participating in the NutriNet-Santé cohort study. Associations between baseline individual characteristics and changes in the two indicators over a 4–6-year follow-up were assessed using a linear mixed model.

Results

At baseline, PEIPP and pro-vegetarian score were positively associated with age [β65+ = 0.80, 95% CI = (0.71, 0.88), β65+ = 3.30, 95% CI = (2.97, 3.64), respectively] and education [βpostgraduate = 0.23, 95% CI = (0.12, 0.34), βpostgraduate = 1.19, 95% CI = (0.75, 1.62)], while they were inversely associated with BMI class [βobesity = − 0.48, 95% CI = (0.56, 0.41), βobesity = − 2.31, 95% CI = (− 2.63, − 1.98)]. Men had higher PEIPP than women [β = 0.06, 95% CI = (0.01, 0.11)]. Pro-vegetarian score significantly increased over time [β = 0.23, 95% CI = (0.08, 0.37)]. The older the individual at baseline, the greater the decrease in the two indicators during follow-up. Pro-vegetarian score increased during follow-up for obese participants at baseline.

Conclusions

The contribution of plant-based foods was associated with several socio-demographic and economic characteristics at baseline, whereas change over time was related to age and weight status. Further analysis of individual obstacles and lever to consume plant-based foods is needed.

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Abbreviations

95% CI:

95% Confidence Interval

ANOVA:

Analysis of Variance

BMI:

Body Mass Index

BMR:

Basal Metabolic Rate

CARDIA:

Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults

ENNS:

Etude Nationale Nutrition Santé

INCA2:

Individual and National Consumption Survey 2

PEIPP:

Percent Energy Intake Provided by Plant Proteins

SD:

Standard Deviation

SE:

Standard Error

UU:

Urban Unit

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université Paris 13, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Equipe de Recherche en Epidémiologie Nutritionnelle (EREN), Centre d’Epidémiologie et Statistiques Paris Nord, Inserm (U1153), Inra (U1125), Cnam, Université Paris 5, Université Paris 7, 93017, Bobigny, France

    Zoé Colombet, Benjamin Allès, Wendy Si Hassen, Aurélie Lampuré, Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot, Sandrine Péneau & Serge Hercberg

  2. Department of Public Health, Hôpital Avicenne, 93300, Bobigny, France

    Serge Hercberg

  3. MOISA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, CIHEAM-IAMM, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France

    Caroline Méjean

  4. EREN, SMBH Paris 13, 74 rue Marcel Cachin, 93017, Bobigny Cedex, France

    Zoé Colombet

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  1. Zoé Colombet
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  2. Benjamin Allès
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  3. Wendy Si Hassen
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  7. Serge Hercberg
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Correspondence to Zoé Colombet.

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Colombet, Z., Allès, B., Si Hassen, W. et al. Individual characteristics associated with changes in the contribution of plant foods to dietary intake in a French prospective cohort. Eur J Nutr 58, 1991–2002 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1752-8

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