title: Homocysteine levels in vegetarians versus omnivores.
abstract: Vitamin B(12), folate, and vitamin B(6) are the main determinants of homocysteinemia. The vegan diet provides no vitamin B(12), but also less strict forms of alternative nutrition may suffer from a deficit of this vitamin. The plasma homocysteine level was measured in alternative nutrition groups of adults (lacto- and lactoovovegetarians, n = 62; vegans, n = 32) and compared with the levels in a group consuming traditional diet (n = 59), omnivores). In the group of vegetarians the average homocysteine level is 13.18 vs. 10.19 micromol/l in omnivores; the frequency of hyperhomocysteinemia is 29 vs. 5% in omnivores. In the group of vegans the average homocysteine value is 15.79 micromol/l (53% of the individual values exceeded 15 micromol/l). Omnivores consume the recommended amount of methionine; however, in individuals consuming an alternative diet, the intake of methionine is deficient (assessed by food frequency questionnaire; lower content of methionine in plant proteins). Under conditions of lower methionine availability the remethylation pathway prevails; therefore, vitamin B(12) and folate were evaluated in relation to the homocysteine level. The serum vitamin B(12) levels are significantly lower in the alternative nutrition groups (214.8 pmol/l in vegetarians, 140.1 pmol/l in vegans vs. 344.7 pmol/l in omnivores); a deficit (<179.0 pmol/l) was found in 26% of the vegetarians and in 78% of the vegans vs. 0% in omnivores. The serum folate levels were within the range of reference values in all groups; however, they were significantly lower in omnivores. The results show that the mild hyperhomocysteinemia in alternative nutrition is a consequence of vitamin B(12) deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Preventive and Clinical Medicine, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krajcovicová-Kudlácková
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blazícek
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kopcová
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Béderová
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Babinská
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D008715:Methionine; D014805:Vitamin B 12