Although current research has contributed to the promotion of whole-food plant-based diets, few studies have examined healthy vegan dietary and lifestyle factors, especially in South America. Therefore, we aimed at investigating the adherence to healthy vegan lifestyle habits among Argentinian vegetarians and omnivorous, using a recently developed vegetarian lifestyle index adapted to the vegan dietary pattern. Also, accessibility of vegetarian foods, and the proportion of household income spent on food were assessed in a cross-sectional approach with 1454 participants. The population was comprised of females (84.9%), singles (55.0%), young-adults (mean age 32.1, standard deviation (SD) = 13.6), employed (50.8%), with high educational levels (50.4%), and low prevalence of both tobacco smoking (7.0%) and frequent alcohol consumption (7.6%). The mean score of adherence to healthy vegan lifestyle habits was 6.64 (SD = 1.72), with higher scores indicating better adherence. Non-vegetarians (5.75; 95% confidence interval (CI), 5.61–5.89) had a significantly lower adjusted mean score compared to semi-(6.32; 95% CI, 6.17–6.47), pesco-(6.99; 95% CI, 6.59–7.39), lacto-ovo-vegetarians (7.10; 95% CI, 6.96–7.24), as well as vegans (8.59; 95% CI, 8.35–8.83). The mean proportion of household income spent on food was significantly lower among vegans compared with other dietary patterns. The whole population that was studied showed a low consumption of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Although vegans showed a better diet and lifestyle pattern there is a need to improve eating and lifestyle habits to address risk factors for non-communicable diseases in Argentina.

Sialic acids (Sias) are a class of sugar molecules with a parent nine-carbon neuraminic acid, generally present at the ends of carbohydrate chains, either attached to cellular surfaces or as secreted glycoconjugates. Given their position and structural diversity, Sias modulate a wide variety of biological processes. However, little is known about the role of Sias in human adipose tissue, or their implications for health and disease, particularly among individuals following different dietary patterns. The goal of this study was to measure N-Acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), N-Glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), and 2-keto-3-deoxy-d-glycero-d-galacto-nononic acid (KDN) concentrations in adipose tissue samples from participants in the Adventist Health Study-2 (AHS-2) and to compare the abundance of these Sias in individuals following habitual, long-term vegetarian or non-vegetarian dietary patterns. A method was successfully developed for the extraction and detection of Sias in adipose tissue. Sias levels were quantified in 52 vegans, 56 lacto-vegetarians, and 48 non-vegetarians using LC–MS/MS with Neu5Ac-D-1,2,3-13C3 as an internal standard. Dietary groups were compared using linear regression. Vegans and lacto-ovo-vegetarians had significantly higher concentrations of Neu5Ac relative to non-vegetarians. While KDN levels tended to be higher in vegans and lacto-ovo-vegetarians, these differences were not statistically significant. However, KDN levels were significantly inversely associated with body mass index. In contrast, Neu5Gc was not detected in human adipose samples. It is plausible that different Neu5Ac concentrations in adipose tissues of vegetarians, compared to those of non-vegetarians, reflect a difference in the baseline inflammatory status between the two groups. Epidemiologic studies examining levels of Sias in human adipose tissue and other biospecimens will help to further explore their roles in development and progression of inflammatory conditions and chronic diseases.