Analyzing dietary exposure to critical nutrients on a plant-based diet using the food- and total nutrient index

This study re-analyzed data from a cross-sectional cohort in Southern Germany comparing omnivores, lacto-ovo-vegetarians, and vegans using the Total Nutrient Index (TNI). The TNI evaluates eight under-consumed nutrients from both food and supplements. Vegans and omnivores had similar TNI scores, while lacto-ovo-vegetarians scored lower. Supplement use was a major contributor to higher nutrient intake, especially for vitamins D and C and magnesium. Vegans heavily relied on supplements to meet their nutritional needs. The study emphasizes the importance of including supplement data in assessing diet quality and recommends defining diet-specific TNI scores for accurate evaluation of plant-based diets.

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