Effect of Lacto-Ovo and Total Vegetarian Diets on Serum, Urinary and Fecal B₁₂ Levels

<p>Serum, urinary and fecal levels of ten lacto-ovo-vegetarians and nine total vegetarians were assayed using Ochromonas malhamensis. Intakes of vitamin B₁₂ , protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber and calories were calculated using 7-day diet histories and questionnaires. Correlations between nutrients consumed, years on diet, serum, urinary and fecal B₁₂ levels were also calculated.</p> <p>Mean serum B₁₂ levels of the lacto-ovo-vegetarians and total vegetarians were 657 pg/ml and 381 pg/ml respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups. The average daily intake of vitamin B₁₂ was 2.0 ug for lacto-ovo-vegetarians and 0.6 ug for the total vegetarians.</p> <p>When nutrients were expressed as percent of calories, the total vegetarians consumed a significantly smaller percent of calories as protein, but there was no significant difference in the percent of calories consumed as fat or carbohydrate or in the percentage of required calories consumed. When nutrient intake was expressed as grams per day. the total vegetarians consumed significantly fewer grams of protein and fat and significantly more grams of fiber than the lacto-ovo-vegetarians. Beth groups consumed fewer calories than required, but the total vegetarians consumed significantly fewer calories than the lacto-ovo-vegetarians.</p> <p>There was no significant difference in the amount of urine excreted by the two groups, but the total vegetarians excreted a significantly greater amount of feces. This is probably a result of the greater fiber intake by the total vegetarians. There was no significant difference in the amount of B₁₂ excreted in the feces or urine of the two groups.</p> <p>A positive correlation was found between the percentage of calories as protein in the diet and the level of result of an increased synthesis of the transcobalamin proteins. There in the serum. This may be a were no other significant correlations between serum B₁₂ and dietary components, but in the lacto-ovo-vegetarians there was a positive correlation between serum B₁₂ and fecal B₁₂.</p> <p>A positive correlation was also found between serum B₁₂ and the period of time on a total vegetarian diet; serum B₁₂ increased as the number of years on the diet increased.</p> <p>This study concludes that the amount of vitamin B₁₂ consumed by a total vegetarian can be adequate to maintain serum B₁₂ unless the individual has extra needs (infants or the elderly). The need for dietary B₁₂ can be met with a balanced diet containing adequate protein and B¹² fortified plant foods.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nutrition

Year

1979

Author dc:creator

• Throssell, Cathleen D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• U. D. Register
• James W. Blankenship
• Irma B. Vyhmeister
• Kenneth I. Burke
• Paul Y. Yahiku

• Nutrition
• Vegetarianism; Diet

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/908

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1909