Nutritional status and phytate:zinc and phytate x calcium:zinc dietary molar ratios of lacto-ovo vegetarian Trappist monks: 10 years later.
A nutrition assessment of 16 members of a community of lacto-ovo vegetarian Trappist monks was conducted in 1977. Plasma zinc was found to be low-normal, which was attributed primarily to high intakes of phytate-containing foods. Individual and group counseling were instituted over a 10-year period in an attempt to emphasize the importance of wise food selection within the constraints of lacto-ovo vegetarianism. In 1987, a more comprehensive nutrition assessment of 21 members of the same community was performed. Food composites were analyzed, and 3-day instead of 24-hour dietary records were kept. Intakes of phytate-containing foods had decreased from 4,569 to 972 mg/day; intake of dietary zinc had increased from 7.4 to 9.7 mg/day; and the phytate:zinc molar ratio had decreased from 67 to 14 for the years 1977 and 1987, respectively. An analyzed phytate:zinc molar ratio of 9.8 and an analyzed phytate x calcium:zinc molar ratio of 0.3 were representative of the 1987 community. Both were within normal ranges. Plasma zinc had risen to upper-normal levels. The 1987 nutrition assessment showed that it is possible to be adequately nourished with a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet provided one has proper knowledge of the phytate-containing foods and the methods for compensating with foods of greater mineral density (primarily zinc).
Harland
B F
BF
Department of Human Nutrition and Food, School of Human Ecology, Howard University, Washington, D.C. 20059.
Smith
S A
SA
Howard
M P
MP
Ellis
R
R
Smith
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002410:Catholicism; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000097:blood; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010833:Phytic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
D008903:Minerals; D010833:Phytic Acid; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium