The iron and zinc status of long-term vegetarian women.
Iron and zinc status of 56 Seventh-Day Adventist Canadian women (mean age 52.9 +/- 15.3 yr) following vegetarian diets for 19 +/- 17 yr were investigated. Energy, protein, iron, available iron, zinc, and total dietary fiber intakes were calculated from 3-day dietary records. Hemoglobin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, serum and hair zinc concentrations were also determined. Plant products provided 92 and 77% of the total dietary iron and zinc intakes, respectively. Calculated mean daily intakes (+/- SD) for energy, protein, iron, zinc, and total dietary fiber were 1630 +/- 354 kcal, 58 +/- 14 g, 12.5 +/- 3.0 mg, 9.2 +/- 2.5 mg, and 30.9 +/- 11.0 g, respectively. Mean hemoglobin (13.1 +/- 1.0 g/dl), calculated serum transferrin saturation (37.5 +/- 12.9%), mean serum zinc (99 +/- 24 microgram/dl), and hair zinc concentrations (187 +/- 44 ppm) were all within the normal range. The iron and zinc status of these long-term Seventh-Day Adventist vegetarian women appeared adequate despite their low intake of readily absorbed iron and zinc from flesh foods and their high intake of total dietary fiber and phytate.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc