June 19, 2003 – Virtually all vegetarians (lacto-ovo-vegetarians, lacto-vegetarians and vegans) suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency, German researchers say. Until now, it was believed that these deficiencies only affected the strictest vegetarians.
The researchers recruited 174 healthy people for their study. They found that 92% of the vegans who were among their participants suffered from vitamin B12 deficiency. The surprise, however, is that two-thirds of vegetarians whose diet included eggs and milk also suffered from such a deficiency.
In comparison, only 5% of non-vegetarians were deficient in vitamin B12. The results of this study are published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Vitamin B12 is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system and red blood cells, as well as for the production of DNA. Vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked to high levels of homocysteine in the blood, which may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, this vitamin is not found in any plant food, apart from fortified breads, but meat, fish, eggs and milk contain varying amounts.
On a related note, the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada recently released a joint press release.1 in which they claim that a vegetarian diet, if carefully planned, can be appropriate for people of all ages. They notably cite reduced intakes of saturated fat and cholesterol, and increased intakes of fiber, folic acid, carbohydrates, magnesium, potassium and various antioxidants.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
From WebMD and HealthDay; June 10 and 19, 2003.
1. American Dietetic Association; Dietitians of Canada. Position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada: Vegetarian diets.J Am Diet Assoc 2003 Jun; 103 (6): 748-65. [Consulté le 19 juin 2003].
