Serum Vitamin B&lt;sub&gt;12&lt;/sub&gt; and Blood Cell Values in Vegetarians

Dong, A.; Scott, Stephen C.

doi:10.1159/000176565

Cited by 26 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The two analyzed populations ('living-food' vegans and Natural Hygiene vegans), similar to the population studied here, also had high rates of below-normal serum cobalamin concentrations [15,16]. Our report here is in agreement with the average of all of the other studies, that about 50% of vegans, measured cross-sectionally, have below-normal cobalamin status.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Metabolic Vitamin B<sub>12</sub> Status on a Mostly Raw Vegan Diet with Follow-Up Using Tablets, Nutritional Yeast, or Probiotic Supplements

Donaldson¹

2000

Ann Nutr Metab

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Background: Pure vegetarian diets might cause cobalamin deficiency due to lack of dietary intake. It was hypothesized that a population following a vegan diet consuming mostly raw fruits and vegetables, carrot juice, and dehydrated barley grass juice would be able to avoid vitamin B₁₂ deficiency naturally. Methods: Subjects were recruited at a health ministers’ reunion based on adherence to the Hallelujah diet for at least 2 years. Serum cobalamin and urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA) assays were performed. Follow-up with sublingual tablets, nutritional yeast, or probiotic supplements was carried out on subjects with abnormal MMA results. Results: 49 subjects were tested. Most subjects (10th to 90th percentile) had followed this diet 23–49 months. 6 subjects had serum B₁₂ concentrations <147 pmol/l (200 pg/ml). 37 subjects (76%) had serum B₁₂ concentrations <221 pmol/l (300 pg/ml). 23 subjects (47%) had abnormal urinary MMA concentrations above or equal to 4.0 µg/mg creatinine. Sublingual cyanocobalamin and nutritional yeast, but not probiotic supplements, significantly reduced group mean MMA concentrations (tablet p < 0.01; yeast p < 0.05, probiotic > 0.20). Conclusions: The urinary MMA assay is effective for identifying early metabolic cobalamin deficiency. People following the Hallelujah diet and other raw-food vegetarian diets should regularly monitor their urinary MMA levels, consume a sublingual cobalamin supplement, or consume cobalamin in their food.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Metabolic Vitamin B<sub>12</sub> Status on a Mostly Raw Vegan Diet with Follow-Up Using Tablets, Nutritional Yeast, or Probiotic Supplements

Donaldson¹

2000

Ann Nutr Metab

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“…In this survey, milk and milk products contributed 64% and 55% of vitamin B 12 in the diets of younger and older vegetarians, respectively; the respective contributions from fish were 14% and 11% (not shown). The similarity of plasma vitamin B 12 values between omnivores and vegetarians contrasts with those reported in adult studies, where significantly lower levels of serum vitamin B 12 have been observed in vegans (Sanders et al ., 1978; Dong & Scott, 1982) and vegetarians (Helman & Darnton‐Hill, 1987; Millet et al ., 1989), compared with omnivores. However, in agreement with small studies in vegetarian preschool children (Dwyer et al ., 1982) and adult vegans (Sanders et al ., 1978), plasma vitamin B 12 values were adequate in almost all children in this survey.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary intakes and nutrient status of vegetarian preschool children from a British national survey

Thane

Bates

2000

J Human Nutrition Diet

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BACKGROUND: Dietary intakes and nutrient status were compared in meat-eaters and non-meat-eaters from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey of children aged 1.5-4.5 years. METHODS: Children (n = 1351) were categorized as 'omnivores' or 'vegetarians', according to whether they consumed meat or meat products during a 4-day dietary record. Blood samples were also obtained for analysis of haematological and biochemical nutrient status. RESULTS: Three per cent of children were 'vegetarian'. They consumed higher proportions of milk and milk products, although this was significant only in older children (P = 0.007), owing to high consumption by the high proportion of Asian children. In vegetarians, energy intakes tended to be lower in both age groups. Percentage energy from protein and fat were lower, while that from carbohydrate was higher compared with omnivores. Cholesterol intakes were lower, significantly so for younger children (P < 0.001). Intakes of micronutrients were either higher (vitamins C and E, potassium) or lower (niacin and sodium) in younger vegetarians compared with omnivores. Energy-adjusted intakes of iron and zinc did not differ significantly from those of omnivores, although both intakes were low in many children (6-20% < LRNI), particularly in the younger group. Haematological and biochemical nutrient status indices showed few differences. Serum ferritin was lower in vegetarians, significantly so in younger children (P = 0.002). Antioxidant vitamin (A, C and E) status tended to be higher in vegetarians, while vitamin B12 intakes and status were more than adequate. Apart from poorer vitamin D intake and status in older Asian vegetarians, very few ethnic differences were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrient intakes and status were generally adequate in preschool children who did not eat meat. Although serum ferritin levels were inferior (particularly in vegetarians under 3 years old), the lower intakes of fat, cholesterol and sodium, and higher antioxidant vitamin intakes and status indices were potentially beneficial. Given a balanced diet, adequate nutrient intakes and status can be maintained without consuming meat.

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“…The RBC folate o317 nmol/l was defined as folic acid deficiency, and the RBC folate between 317 and 363 nmol/l was considered to be low in folic acid (Senti and Pilch, 1985;Gibson, 2005a). Serum vitamin B 12 o150 pmol/l (Dong and Scott, 1982) and EGRAC X1.4 (Powers et al, 1983) were defined as vitamin B 2 and vitamin B 12 deficiency, respectively. Vitamin C deficiency was defined as a plasma ascorbic acid o11.4 mmol/l, and low vitamin C status was when plasma ascorbic acid lay between 11.4 and 23.0 mmol/l (Jacob, 1999).…”

Section: Biochemical and Haematological Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

The coexistence of other micronutrient deficiencies in anaemic adolescent schoolgirls in rural Bangladesh

et al. 2007

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Objective: To investigate the prevalence of selected micronutrient deficiencies amongst anaemic adolescent schoolgirls in rural Bangladesh and to examine their relationship with haemoglobin (Hb) levels. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: Girls' high schools in rural areas of Dhaka District in Bangladesh. Subjects and methods: Three hundred and ten anaemic adolescent girls aged 14-18 years from eight schools participated in the study. Information on personal characteristics and food habits were collected by interview. Parents were asked about their socio-economic conditions. Anthropometric data and blood samples were collected following the interview. Results: Twenty-eight per cent of the girls had depleted iron stores (serum ferritin o12.0 mg/l), 25% had folic acid deficiency (red blood cell folic acid o317 nmol/l), 89% had vitamin B 2 (erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient X1.4) and 7% had vitamin B 12 deficiencies (serum vitamin B 12 o150 pmol/l). Although the prevalence of vitamins A and C deficiency was very low, a significant proportion had low vitamin A (serum retinol between 0.70 and o1.05 mmol/l) and vitamin C status (plasma ascorbic acid between 11.4-23.0 mmol/l). Frequency of consumption of meat, serum ferritin and vitamin B 2 status were found to be strongly related to Hb by multiple regression analysis. For 1 mg/l change in serum ferritin, there was a 0.13 g/l change in Hb when adjusted for other factors. Conclusions: There is coexistence of micronutrient deficiencies among anaemic adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh, although they do not suffer from energy deficiency. Of all micronutrients, only iron and vitamin B 2 concentrations were found to be related to the Hb concentration.

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Serum Vitamin B<sub>12</sub> and Blood Cell Values in Vegetarians

Cited by 26 publications

References 12 publications

Metabolic Vitamin B<sub>12</sub> Status on a Mostly Raw Vegan Diet with Follow-Up Using Tablets, Nutritional Yeast, or Probiotic Supplements

Metabolic Vitamin B<sub>12</sub> Status on a Mostly Raw Vegan Diet with Follow-Up Using Tablets, Nutritional Yeast, or Probiotic Supplements

Dietary intakes and nutrient status of vegetarian preschool children from a British national survey

The coexistence of other micronutrient deficiencies in anaemic adolescent schoolgirls in rural Bangladesh

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