Nutritional Profiles of Elderly Vegetarians.

The limited evidence on nutritional profiles of elderly vegetarians is reviewed, and specific recommendations are made for the diets of elderly vegetarians and for further research. On the whole, results in elderly vegetarians are consistent with those in younger vegetarians, showing many favorable nutritional characteristics but also potential weaknesses in certain vegetarian diets, particularly in relation to vitamin B ₁₂, calcium, protein, and zinc. The limited amount of research on elderly vegetarians is striking, given the aging of populations and the increased interest in vegetarian and plant-based diets. Further research on elderly vegetarians should include careful examination of zinc and omega-3 fatty acids and should very carefully adjust for any age differences between diet groups.