scholarly journals Vitamin B12and folate status in Spanish lacto-ovo vegetarians and vegans

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angélica Gallego-Narbón ◽  
Belén Zapatera ◽  
Laura Barrios ◽  
M. Pilar Vaquero
Keyword(s):  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Functional Markers ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Folate Status ◽  
Erythrocyte Folate ◽  
Subclinical Vitamin ◽  
Supplement Intake ◽  
Diet Type

AbstractStudies on the nutritional status of vegetarians in Spain are lacking. Prevention of vitamin B12deficiency is the main concern, as dietary sources are of animal origin. The present study aimed to evaluate vitamin B12and folate status of Spanish vegetarians using classical markers and functional markers. Participants were adult and healthy lacto-ovo vegetarians (forty-nine subjects) and vegans (fifty-four subjects) who underwent blood analyses and completed a FFQ. Serum vitamin B12, homocysteine (Hcy), methylmalonic acid (MMA), erythrocyte folate and haematological parameters were determined. The effects of the type of plant-based diet, and the intake of supplements and foods were studied by a FFQ. Mean erythrocyte folate was 1704 (sd609) nmol/l. Clinical or subclinical vitamin B12deficiency was detected in 11 % of the subjects (MMA>271 nmol/l) and 33 % of the participants showed hyperhomocysteinaemia (Hcy>15 µmol/l). Regarding plant-based diet type, significantly higher Hcy was observed in lacto-ovo vegetarians compared with vegans (P = 0·019). Moreover, use of vitamin B12supplements involved an improvement of vitamin B12status but further increase in erythrocyte folate (P = 0·024). Consumption of yoghurts was weakly associated with serum vitamin B12adequacy (P = 0·049) and that of eggs with lower Hcy (P = 0·030). In conclusion, Spanish vegetarians present high folate status but vitamin B12subclinical deficiency was demonstrated using functional markers. The lack of influence of dietary sources on functional markers and the strong effect of vitamin B12supplement intake emphasise the need of cobalamin supplementation in both lacto-ovo vegetarians and vegans.

scholarly journals Haematological studies on vegans

1978 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. B. Sanders ◽  
F. R. Ellis ◽  
J. W. T. Dickerson
Keyword(s):  
Haemoglobin Concentration ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Serum Folate ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Blood Formation ◽  
Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin ◽  
Erythrocyte Folate ◽  
The Mean

1. The concentrations of vitamin B12 and folate in the serum and folate in the erythrocytes were determined and full blood counts made on a series of caucasian vegans and omnivore controls.2. The blood counts and films were normal in all the vegans and no subject had a haemoglobin concentration below the lower limit of normality.3. Although within the normal range, male but not female vegans had lower values for erythrocyte counts and higher values for mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin than their controls regardless of whether they were taking vitamin B12 supplements or not.4. The mean serum vitamin B12 concentration was lower in the vegans not taking vitamin B12 supplements and in those using foods supplemented with the vitamin than in the controls, but in no subject was it below 80 ng/l.5. The serum folate concentrations were higher in the vegans than in their controls. The mean value for erythrocyte folate tended to be greater in the vegans not taking vitamin B12 supplements. No subject had an erythrocyte folate concentration of less than 100μg/l.6. It is concluded that megaloblastic anaemia is very rare in caucasian vegans and that a diet consisting entirely of plant foods is generally adequate to promote normal blood formation providing it is composed of a mixture of unrefined cereals, pulses, nuts, fruit and vegetables and is supplemented with vitamin B12.

Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, Folate and the Risk of Osteoporotic Fractures. A Case-Control Study

2007 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 359-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martínez-Ramírez ◽  
Palma Pérez ◽  
Delgado-Martínez ◽  
Martínez-González ◽  
De la Fuente Arrillaga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
Fracture Risk ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Osteoporotic Fractures ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Erythrocyte Folate ◽  
Control Study

Water-soluble vitamins influence the development of an adequate structure of bone tissue, but there is scant information relating them with osteoporotic fractures. We analyze whether serum vitamin C, vitamin B12, and erythrocyte folate, or dietary intake of vitamin C and folate, are related with osteoporotic fractures in the elderly. A hospital-based case-control study was carried out at the Hospital of Jaén (167 cases, 167 controls), Spain. Cases were defined as patients aged 65 or more years with a low-energy fracture. Controls were people without fracture, matched for age and sex with cases. Diet was assessed by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Serum vitamin C was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Folic acid and vitamin B12 were measured using procedures of competitive or immunometric immunoassay. Multivariable analyses were also fitted to adjust for confounding using analysis of covariance (for the comparison of adjusted means) and conditional logistic regression (for estimating adjusted odds ratios). A statistically significant difference between cases and controls for vitamin C blood levels was found, being higher for controls (p = 0.01). Analysis of the association between serum vitamin C and fracture risk showed a linear trend (p = 0.03) with a significantly reduced risk for the upper quartile (OR = 0.31; 95% CI 0.11–0.87). The intake of vitamin C, folic acid, and B12 was not related to fracture risk, nor was there any association with erythrocyte folate or serum vitamin B12. In conclusion, serum vitamin C levels were lower in cases with osteoporotic fractures than in controls.

scholarly journals Haematological studies on pre-menopausal Indian and Caucasian vegetarians compared with Caucasian omnivores

1990 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheela Reddy ◽  
T. A. B. Sanders
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin C ◽  
Mean Corpuscular Volume ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Corpuscular Volume ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Indian Women ◽  
Corpuscular Haemoglobin ◽  
Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin ◽  
Erythrocyte Folate

Full blood counts, serum ferritin, vitamin B12 and folate, erythrocyte folate concentrations and nutrient intakes were estimated in twenty-three Indian vegetarian, twenty-two Caucasian omnivores and eighteen Caucasian vegetarian women aged 25–40 years. Energy and copper intakes were lower in the Indian women than in the Caucasians. Intakes of dietary fibre, vitamin C and folate were greater and the proportion of energy derived from fat was lower in the vegetarians than in the omnivores. Vitamin B12 and protein intakes were lower in both vegetarian groups than in the omnivores. Fe intake was similar in all the groups but haem Fe provided one-quarter of the Fe intake of the omnivores. Haemoglobin concentrations were generally inside the normal range in all groups, but were lower in the Indians as were mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH). Higher MCV, MCH and lower erythrocyte (RBC) counts were observed in Caucasian vegetarians compared with the Caucasian omnivores. In both groups of vegetarians, concentrations of serum vitamin B12 and ferritin were markedly lower than in the omnivores. RBC folate concentrations were lower in the Indians than in either of the Caucasian groups when subjects taking supplements were excluded. It is concluded that vegetarians need to ensure they have adequate intakes of Fe and vitamin B12.

scholarly journals The influence of erythrocyte folate and serum vitamin B12status on birth weight

2005 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 593-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline L. Relton ◽  
Mark S. Pearce ◽  
Louise Parker
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Maternal Age ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Maternal Vitamin ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Standardized Regression Coefficients ◽  
Erythrocyte Folate ◽  
Infant Birth ◽  
The Relationship

The extent to which maternal folate and vitamin B12modulate infant birth weight is unclear. The present study investigated mothers in early gestation (mean 11·5 (sd 5·8) weeks) and neonates, at delivery. Erythrocyte (RBC) folate (mothers:n683; neonates:n614) and vitamin B12(mothers:n534; neonates:n614) were measured. Data on smoking habits were available for 44 % of pregnancies (n443). The relationship between vitamin levels and birth weight standardized for gender and gestational age was investigated, using linear regression and adjusting for possible confounding variables (maternal age, parity). Results are presented as standardized regression coefficients (b). Increasing maternal age was associated with elevated RBC folate (b0·11 (95 % CI 0·08, 0·15),P<0·001;n674) and smoking was associated with a decrease in maternal RBC folate (b−1·38 (95 % CI −1·92, −0·86),P=0·001;n319). Neonatal RBC folate was predicted by maternal RBC folate (b0·08 (95 % CI 0·04, 0·11),P=0·001;n315) and maternal vitamin B12(b0·08 (95 % CI 0·01, 0·16),P=0·02;n252). Smoking influenced maternal vitamin B12status (b−0·88 (95 % CI −1·49, −0·27),P=0·005;n231). Using univariate regression, smoking significantly influenced infant birth weight (b−2·15 (95 % CI −3·24, −1·04),P<0·001;n437). However, the effect of smoking on birth weight was statistically non-significant when considered in a multivariate regression model, leaving maternal RBC folate as the only significant predictor of birth weight (b0·25 (95 % CI 0·08, 0·42),P=0·005;n145). These findings suggest that maternal folate status is an important determinant of infant birth weight. The combined effects of smoking and reduced RBC status on birth weight require further investigation.

The Folate Status of Alcoholics

1970 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 285-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. R. Williams ◽  
R. H. Girdwood
Keyword(s):  
Liver Function ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Liver Function Tests ◽  
Neurological Complications ◽  
Abnormal Liver Function ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Plasma Vitamin ◽  
Psychiatric Unit ◽  
Folate Status ◽  
Erythrocyte Folate

Plasma and erythrocyte folate levels and plasma vitamin B12 levels have been studied in a group of 50 well motivated alcholics admitted to a psychiatric unit for the treatment of alcoholism. Sixty-six per cent of the patients had abnormal liver function tests and 12 per cent had neurological complications. The folate status of the alcoholics did not differ significantly from that of 40 healthy blood donors, and was unrelated to the degree of impairment of liver function.

Nutritional B12 Deficiency in Infants of Vitamin B12-Deficient Mothers

2011 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 328-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oya Halicioglu ◽  
Sezin Asik Akman ◽  
Sumer Sutcuoglu ◽  
Berna Atabay ◽  
Meral Turker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Megaloblastic Anemia ◽  
Maternal Diet ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Failure To Thrive ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Hematological Evaluation ◽  
Nutritional Vitamin

Aim: Nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency in infants may occur because the maternal diet contains inadequate animal products. Clinical presentations of the infants who had nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency were analyzed in this study. Subjects and Methods: Patients with nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency were enrolled in the study between 2003 and 2010. The diagnosis was based on a nutritional history of mothers and infants, clinical findings, hematological evaluation, and low level of serum vitamin B12. Results: Thirty children aged 1 - 21 months constituted the study group. Poverty was the main cause of inadequate consumption of animal products of the mothers. All infants had predominantly breastfed. The most common symptoms were developmental delay, paleness, apathy, lethargy, anorexia, and failure to thrive. Hematological findings were megaloblastic anemia (83.3 %), thrombocytopenia (30 %), and severe anemia (13.3 %). All of the mothers had low serum B12 levels; eight of them had megaloblastic anemia. Conclusion: The unusual clinical manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency may also be seen apart from neurological and hematological findings. Nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency due to maternal deficiency might be a serious health problem in infants. Therefore, screening and supplementation of pregnant and lactating women to prevent infantile vitamin B12 deficiency should be considered.

Serum Vitamin B12 Concentrations among Mothers and Newborns and Follow-up Study to Assess Implication on the Growth Velocity and the Urinary Methylmalonic Acid Excretion

2009 ◽  
Vol 79 (56) ◽  
pp. 297-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laila Hussein ◽  
Sahar Abdel Aziz ◽  
Salwa Tapouzada ◽  
Boehles
Keyword(s):  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Growth Velocity ◽  
Methylmalonic Acid ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Metabolic Marker ◽  
Biochemical Measurement

Objective:Cobalamin (B12) deficiency has been reported in infants born to mothers with low cobalamin intake. Early diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency in infants is critical for the prevention of neurobehavioral disorders. We investigated the relationship between serum vitamin B12 level in newborns and in their healthy mothers who consumed an omnivorous diet. Anthropometry was studied longitudinally to assess the growth velocity of the infants. Urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA) excretion of 6-month old infants was compared retrospectively as the biomarker correlated with the initial serum vitamin B12 concentrations. Methods: Serum cobalamin and blood hemoglobin were determined in 84 pairs of newborns and their mothers. Urinary MMA excretion was measured in the same subjects during the first 6 months of the post partum period. Results: At birth, median serum cobalamin levels were 152.0 pmol/L in the mothers and 296.6 pmol/L in the newborns. Maternal and neonatal serum cobalamin levels had no effect on growth velocity during the first six months of postnatal life. Serum maternal and neonatal cobalamin levels were inversely associated with urinary MMA excretion. Conclusion: Early diagnosis of vitamin B12 status in neonates and infants is crucial, particularly in nutritionally deprived areas. Biochemical measurement of plasma cobalamin or its metabolic marker MMA is highly recommended. Urinary MMA measurement in cobalamin diagnostics provides an advantage in that blood sampling is not required. A vitamin B12 taskforce should be created to alleviate vitamin deficiency and its negative consequences.

scholarly journals Masked vitamin B12 and folate deficiency in the elderly

1985 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 613-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Craig ◽  
C. Elliot ◽  
K. R. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Investigation ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Folate Deficiency ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Serum Folate ◽  
Fe Deficiency ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Geriatric Unit

1. A high incidence of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, or both, may be found in the elderly, particularly those in hospital. This report concerns fifty cases detected in an inner-city-area geriatric unit during the course of routine clinical investigation. The majority had none of the classical haematological signs of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, and all the patients reported had a mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of less than 100 fl.2. There was a significant negative correlation between the MCV and the erythrocyte folate (P< 0.01), supporting earlier published work using a low serum folate as an index of folate deficiency.3. There was no correlation between the MCV and the serum vitamin B12. Published work differs on this point.4. Serum iron, total Fe-binding capacity and percentage Fe saturation results were available in forty patients in this series. There was a significant positive correlation between the serum Fe and the MCV (P<0.01) and 34% of patients had haematological evidence of Fe deficiency. In the majority, however, there was no evidence that associated Fe deficiency had masked the haematological signs of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.5. More attention should be paid to the problem of ‘masked’ vitamin B12 and folate deficiency in the elderly. There is a case for routine screening of the elderly for vitamin B12 and folate deficiency irrespective of the MCV.

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