| Summary: | 博士 === 中山醫學大學 === 營養學研究所 === 97 === Background: For ethical, health or environmental reasons, there are an increasing number of vegetarians in worldwide. Vegetarian diets have been shown a lower incidence of hypertension, coronary artery disease, type II diabetes, and certain cancer. However, vegetarians may be at risk of having certain nutrient deficiencies particular of vitamin B-12. Vitamin B-12 deficiency may increase plasma homocysteine concentration and then potentially increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess and compare dietary intakes, nutritional status, plasma homocysteine and vitamin B-12 status between vegetarian and omnivorous preschool children and their parents. In addition, the association between homocysteine and vitamin B-12 concentration was also examined.
Methods: Fifty-six omnivores (28 preschool children and one of their parents), 42 vegetarians (21 preschool children with 18 lacto-ovo-vegetarians and 3 ovovegetarians; 21 parents with 16 lacto-ovo-vegetarians, 2 ovo-vegetarians, 1 lacto-vegetarian, and 2 vegans) were recruited in this study. Anthropometric measurements were taken; body mass index and weight-for-height index (WHI) were calculated. Nutrient intake was recorded using 3-day dietary records. Fasting venous blood samples were obtained to estimate hematological parameters, plasma homocysteine, and vitamin B-12 concentrations.
Results: The height, weight, body mass index, WHI, and triceps skinfold thickness values were not different between omnivores and vegetarians in both parent and child groups. Both vegetarian parent and their children had significantly lower fat and higher fiber intakes than omnivorous parents and their children. Vegetarian children had significantly lower protein and higher vitamin C intakes than omnivorous children, whereas vegetarian parents had significantly lower vitamin A and iron intakes than omnivorous parents. Vegetarians and omnivores in both parent and child groups had mean calcium consumption less than 75% of the Taiwan dietary reference intake. All subjects’ mean hematologic and biochemical status indicators were within the normal range. However, both vegetarian parents and children had significantly lower mean total cholesterol and serum ferritin concentrations than those of omnivorous parents and children. Mean plasma homocysteine concentration of vegetarian parents and their children was in the physiological range, and they had slightly but not significantly higher plasma homocysteine levels than omnivores. Omnivorous parents and their children had significantly higher vitamin B-12 intake but similar serum vitamin B-12 concentrations than vegetarian subjects. Plasma homocysteine concentration was only significantly and negatively associated with serum folate levels (B = -0.15) and dietary vitamin B-12 intake (B = -0.05) in the omnivorous parents after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index and serum creatinine.
Conclusion: Our vegetarian and omnivorous preschool children had normal growth and adequate nutritional status. However, both parents and children had inadequate calcium intakes, which may potentially affect bone health, especially for preschool children in the growing stage. Vegetarian parents and their preschool children had a lower vitamin B-12 intake but similar plasma vitamin B-12 concentration than omnivorous parents and their preschool children, and plasma vitamin B-12 concentration was not associated with plasma homocysteine levels. As long as carefully plan vegetarian diet for vegetarian children and parent, vegetarian diets can meet dietary requirements and have normal growth, nutritional status, and normal vitamin B-12 levels as omnivorous.
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