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Adequate vitamin B12 and folate status of Norwegian vegans and vegetarians.

Sigrun Henjum, Synne Groufh-Jacobsen, Allen Lindsay, Ellen Raael, Anna Maria Israelsson et al.
Other The British journal of nutrition 2023 6 atıf
PubMed DOI CC-BY PDF
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Study Design

Çalışma Türü
cross_sectional
Örneklem Büyüklüğü
205
Müdahale
Adequate vitamin B12 and folate status of Norwegian vegans and vegetarians. not applicable (observational; supplement use self-reported)
Karşılaştırıcı
Placebo
Etki Yönü
Neutral
Yanlılık Riski
Moderate

Abstract

Plant-based diets may increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency due to limited intake of animal-source foods, while dietary folate increases when adhering to plant-based diets. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the B12 and folate status of Norwegian vegans and vegetarians using dietary B12 intake, B12 and folic acid supplement use, and biomarkers (serum B12 (B12), plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), plasma methylmalonic acid (MMA) and serum folate). Vegans (n 115) and vegetarians (n 90) completed a 24-h dietary recall and a FFQ and provided a non-fasting blood sample. cB12, a combined indicator for evaluation of B12 status, was calculated. B12 status was adequate in both vegans and vegetarians according to the cB12 indicator; however 4 % had elevated B12. Serum B12, tHcy, MMA concentrations and the cB12 indicator (overall median: 357 pmol/l, 9·0 µmol/l, 0·18 µmol/l, 1·30 (cB12)) did not differ between vegans and vegetarians, unlike for folate (vegans: 25·8 nmol/l, vegetarians: 21·6 nmol/l, P = 0·027). Serum B12 concentration < 221 pmol/l was found in 14 % of all participants. Vegetarians revealed the highest proportion of participants below the recommended daily intake of 2 µg/d including supplements (40 v. 18 %, P < 0·001). Predictors of higher serum B12 concentrations were average daily supplement use and older age. Folate deficiency (< 10 nmol/l) was uncommon overall (< 2·5 %). The combined indicator cB12 suggested that none of the participants was B12-depleted; however, low serum B12 concentration was found in 14 % of the participants. Folate concentrations were adequate, indicating adequate folate intake in Norwegian vegans and vegetarians.

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Figures

Tables

Table 1.

CombinedVegansVegetarians
n % n % n % P
Participants205100115569044
Sex0·005*
  Females14872·27464·37482·2
  Males5727·84135·71617·8
Country of origin0·91
  Norway17083·09683·57482·2
  Other3517·01916·51617·8
Age (years)
  Mean30·43129·60·09
  sd 9·18·79·5
BMI (kg/m2)
  Mean23·22323·40·64
  sd 3·52·93·9
Educational level0·65
  < 12 years62·932·633·3
  12 years3617·62219·11415·6
  1–4 years university16579·59078·37381·1
Smoking status0·93
  No18590·210389·58291·1
  Yes209·81210·588·9
Duration of plant-based diet
  Mean4·74·115·50·007
  sd 3·12·83·5
Supplement use
  B12, 24-h recall12058·57060·95055·60·45
  B12, habitual use15877·110389·65561·1< 0·001*
Folate, habitual use9345·46052·23336·70·027

Table 2.

IntakesVegansVegetarians
MedianIQRMedianIQR P
B12
24-h intake from food (µg/d)0·040·00, 0·530·190·01, 0·500·57
Total 24-h intake (µg/d)9·01·3, 25·16·30·50, 25·00·64
24-h intake below RDI
  n 34350·16
  %29·638·9
Habitual intake from food (µg/d)0·390·17, 0·570·520·25, 0·740·005
Total habitual intake (µg/d)10·62·4, 1002·70·90, 10·40·001
Habitual intake < RDI
  n 2136< 0·001
  %18·340·0
Injections
  n 1450·10
  %12·15·6
Time since last injection, months9·84·4, 1–1210·63·1, 5–120·80

Table 3.

CombinedVegansVegetarians
Markers n % n % n % P Ref. values
B12 (pmol/l)§
  Median3573503590·88150–650
  IQR270, 464288, 450255, 489
  Deficient14·32912·41416·7150·43< 221
  Marginal13·32711·51315·6140·43149–221
  Severe1·021·011·110·43< 148
tHcy (µmol/l)||
  Median9·09·08·40·255·0–15·0
  IQR7·1, 11·27·7, 11·06·4, 11·5
  Elevated7·0145·369·180·44> 15·0
MMA (µmol/l)
  Median0·180·20·20·55< 0·27
  IQR0·15, 0·240·2, 0·30·1, 0·2
Elevated19·03719·3211618·60·70> 0·27
Folate (nmol/l)**
  Median24·225·821·60·0276–20
  IQR18·0, 32·920·3, 34·816·2, 31·3
Deficient1·731·012·420·46< 10·0
cB12 ††
  Median1·301·311·290·110·5–1·5
  IQR1·24, 1·361·26, 1·361·23, 1·36
Elevated B12 3·772·141·630·66> 1·5

Table 4.

B12 predictorUnadjusted coefficient* 95 % CI P Adjusted coefficient 95 % CI P-value
Age0·0040·001, 0·0060·0080·190·001, 0·0590·002
Supplement use 0·0780·028, 0·130·0030·210·013, 0·0630·001

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