title: Lipid and antioxidant blood levels in vegetarians.
abstract: Parameters of lipid metabolism (triacylglycerols TG, cholesterol CH, HDL-CH, LDL-CH, atherogenic index AI, profile of fatty acids) were measured in blood samples of 81 healthy lacto and lacto-ovo vegetarians (42 males, 39 females; age range 19-39 years). The average period of being on a vegetarian diet was 6.2 years. Low levels of TG, CH, LDL-CH, AI and HDL-CH values on the borderline between standard and reduced risk (1.4 mmol.l-1) can be considered as favourable from the atherosclerosis prevention aspect. Compared with non-vegetarians (n = 62), the levels of TG, CH, LDL-CH, and AI are significantly reduced in the vegetarian group. As opposed to non-vegetarians, vegetarians showed a higher total sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids, a significantly higher content of linoleic acid (C 18:2) and linolenic acid (C 18:3), unchanged content of oleic acid (C 18:1), stearic acid (C 18:0) and other polyunsaturated fatty acids. The process of lipoperoxidation (with polyunsaturated fatty acids as substrate) is involved in the etiology of cardiovascular and oncological diseases. Favourable values of prooxidative-antioxidative parameters demonstrated a reduced risk of lipoperoxidation in vegetarians, compared to non-vegetarians (significantly reduced content of conjugated dienes of fatty acids in plasma, significantly higher plasma levels of vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin E/cholesterol ratio--and indicator of LDL protection, vitamin E/triacylglycerols ratio--an indicator of fatty acid protection--, selenium and glutathione-peroxidase activity).
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Nutrition, Bratislava Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krajcovicová-Kudlácková
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simoncic
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Béderová
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klvanová
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brtková
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grancicová
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol