Cited by 583Nutritional Studies and DietAgriculture Sustainability and Environmental ImpactNutrition and Health Studies

EPIC–Oxford: lifestyle characteristics and nutrient intakes in a cohort of 33 883 meat-eaters and 31 546 non meat-eaters in the UK

Open access
Davey, Gwyneth K, Spencer, Elizabeth A, Appleby, Paul N, Allen, Naomi E, Knox, Katherine H, Key, Timothy J·2003·Public Health Nutrition

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the lifestyle characteristics and nutrient intakes of the Oxford cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). DESIGN: Cohort of men and women recruited through general practices or by post to include a high proportion of non meat-eaters. Dietary, anthropometric and lifestyle data were collected at baseline and four diet groups were defined. SETTING: United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 65 429 men and women aged 20 to 97 years, comprising 33 883 meat-eaters, 10 110 fish-eaters, 18 840 lacto-ovo vegetarians and 2596 vegans. RESULTS: Nutrient intakes and lifestyle factors differed across the diet groups, with striking differences between meat-eaters and vegans, and fish-eaters and vegetarians usually having intermediate values. Mean fat intake in each diet group was below the UK dietary reference value of 33% of total energy intake. The mean intake of saturated fatty acids in vegans was approximately 5% of energy, less than half the mean intake among meat-eaters (10-11%). Vegans had the highest intakes of fibre, vitamin B1, folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium and iron, and the lowest intakes of retinol, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium and zinc. CONCLUSIONS: The EPIC-Oxford cohort includes 31 546 non meat-eaters and is one of the largest studies of vegetarians in the world. The average nutrient intakes in the whole cohort are close to those currently recommended for good health. Comparisons of the diet groups show wide ranges in the intakes of major nutrients such as saturated fat and dietary fibre. Such variation should increase the ability of the study to detect associations of diet with major cancers and causes of death.

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  • Vegans consume lower amounts of cholesterol and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).

    “Vegans consume lower amounts of cholesterol and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) [33,26].”

    From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [26]

  • The lower n-3 PUFA intake in vegans is reflected in reduced circulating concentrations compared with omnivores.

    “The lower n-3 PUFA intake in vegans is reflected in reduced circulating concentrations compared with omnivores [33,26,139].”

    From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [26]

  • Vegans have a higher risk than omnivores for deficiencies in several micronutrients predominantly found in animal-derived foods, such as vitamin B12, iron, calcium, and vitamin D.

    “Large cohort studies indicate that vegans have a higher risk (compared with omnivores) for deficiencies in several micronutrients predominantly found in animal-derived foods, such as vitamin B12, iron, calcium, and vitamin D”

    From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [26]

  • In EPIC-Oxford, daily calcium intakes were significantly lower in both male (610 mg/d) and female (582 mg/d) vegans.

    “However, categorized by diet, daily calcium intakes were significantly lower in both male (610 mg/d) and female (582 mg/d) vegans [26]”

    From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [26]

  • In EPIC-Oxford, average calcium intakes were 1042 mg/d and 988 mg/d in UK males and females, respectively.

    “Data from the EPIC-Oxford cohort illustrate that average calcium intakes were 1042 mg/d and 988 mg/d in UK males and females, respectively [26].”

    From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [26]

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2 of the 36 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Holland B, Welch AA, Unwin ID, Buss DH, Paul AA, Southgate DAT. McCance & Widdowson's The Composition of Foods, 5th ed. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry, 1991.
  2. Holland B, Welch AA, Buss DH. Vegetable Dishes. Second Supplement to McCance & Widdowson's The Composition of Foods, 5th ed. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry, 1992.
  3. Department of Health. Prescott-Clarke P, Primatesta P, eds. Health Survey for England 1995. Vol. 1. Findings. London: The Stationery Office, 1997.
  4. Allen NE, Appleby PN, Davey GK, Kaaks R, Rinaldi S, Key TJ. Circulating total and bioavailable insulin-like growth factor-I is lower among vegan women compared with vegetarians and meat-eaters. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomark. Prev. 2002; 11: 1441 -8.

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Authors
Davey, G. K., Spencer, E. A., Appleby, P. N., Allen, N. E., Knox, K. H., & Key, T. J.
Affiliations
Cancer Research UK (GB)
Corresponding author
Davey, Gwyneth K
Venue
Public Health Nutrition
Published
2003-06
Volume
6
Issue
3
Pages
259-268
ISSN
  • 1368-9800 (ISSN-L)
  • 1475-2727
OpenAlex
W1987997128
Cited by
583
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 59 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 19
FWCI
8.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Public Health Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Cancer Research UK
  • University of Oxford
  • European Commission
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutrition and Health Studies
Keywords
dietary habits, nutrient intake, meat-eaters, vegans, lacto-ovo-vegetarians, lifestyle factors, saturated fat intake, dietary fiber, micronutrient intake
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Animals, Anthropometry, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diet Surveys, Dietary Fats, Dietary Fiber, Feeding Behavior, Female, Fishes, United Kingdom, Humans, Life Style, Male, Meat, Middle Aged, Minerals, Diet, Vegetarian, Vitamins, Cohort Studies, Diet Records, Body Mass Index

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