5 research outputs found
Adequate vitamin B12 and folate status of Norwegian vegans and vegetarians
Plant-based diets may increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency due to limited intake of animal-source foods, while dietary folate increases when adhering to plant-based diets. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the B12 and folate status of Norwegian vegans and vegetarians using dietary B12 intake, B12- and folic acid supplement use, and biomarkers (serum B12 [B12], plasma total-homocysteine [tHcy], plasma-methylmalonic acid [MMA], and serum-folate). Vegans (n=115) and vegetarians (n=90) completed a 24-hour dietary recall and a food-frequency questionnaire and provided a non-fasting blood sample. cB12, a combined indicator for evaluation of B12 status, was calculated. B12 status were adequate in both vegans and vegetarians according to the cB12 indicator, however 4% had elevated B12. Serum B12, tHcy, MMA concentrations and the cB12 indicator (overall median: 357pmol/L, 9.0µmol/L, 0.18µmol/L, 1.30 (cB12)) did not differ between vegans and vegetarians, unlike for folate (vegans: 25.8nmol/L, vegetarians: 21.6nmol/L, p=0.027). Serum B12 concentration <221pmol/L, was found in 14% of all participants. Vegetarians revealed the highest proportion of participants below the RDI of 2 µg/day including supplements (40 vs. 18%, p<0.001). Predictors of higher serum B12 concentrations were average daily supplement use and older age. Folate deficiency (<10 nmol/L) was uncommon overall (<2.5%). The combined indicator cB12 suggested that none of the participants was B12 depleted, however low serum B12 concentration was found in 14% of the participants. Folate concentrations were adequate, indicating adequate folate intake in Norwegian vegans and vegetarians.publishedVersionPaid open acces
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Adequate vitamin B12 and folate status of Norwegian vegans and vegetarians
Plant-based diets may increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency due to limited intake of animal-source foods, while dietary folate increases when adhering to plant-based diets. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the B12 and folate status of Norwegian vegans and vegetarians using dietary B12 intake, B12 and folic acid supplement use, and biomarkers (serum B12 (B12), plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), plasma methylmalonic acid (MMA) and serum folate). Vegans (n 115) and vegetarians (n 90) completed a 24-h dietary recall and a FFQ and provided a non-fasting blood sample. cB12, a combined indicator for evaluation of B12 status, was calculated. B12 status was adequate in both vegans and vegetarians according to the cB12 indicator; however 4 % had elevated B12. Serum B12, tHcy, MMA concentrations and the cB12 indicator (overall median: 357 pmol/l, 9·0 µmol/l, 0·18 µmol/l, 1·30 (cB12)) did not differ between vegans and vegetarians, unlike for folate (vegans: 25·8 nmol/l, vegetarians: 21·6 nmol/l, P = 0·027). Serum B12 concentration < 221 pmol/l was found in 14 % of all participants. Vegetarians revealed the highest proportion of participants below the recommended daily intake of 2 µg/d including supplements (40 v. 18 %, P < 0·001). Predictors of higher serum B12 concentrations were average daily supplement use and older age. Folate deficiency (< 10 nmol/l) was uncommon overall (< 2·5 %). The combined indicator cB12 suggested that none of the participants was B12-depleted; however, low serum B12 concentration was found in 14 % of the participants. Folate concentrations were adequate, indicating adequate folate intake in Norwegian vegans and vegetarians
Exchanging a few commercial, regularly consumed food items with improved fat quality reduces total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol: A double-blind, randomised controlled trial
The healthy Nordic diet has been previously shown to have health bene
fi
cial effects among subjects at risk of CVD. However, the extent of
food changes needed to achieve these effects is less explored. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of exchanging a few
commercially available, regularly consumed key food items (e.g. spread on bread, fat for cooking, cheese, bread and cereals) with improved
fat quality on total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and in
fl
ammatory markers in a double-blind randomised, controlled trial. In total, 115
moderately hypercholesterolaemic, non-statin-treated adults (25
–
70 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental diet group (Ex-diet
group) or control diet group (C-diet group) for 8 weeks with commercially available food items with different fatty acid composition (replacing
SFA with mostly
n
-6 PUFA). In the Ex-diet group, serum total cholesterol (
P
<
0
·
001) and LDL-cholesterol (
P
<
0
·
001) were reduced after
8 weeks, compared with the C-diet group. The difference in change between the two groups at the end of the study was
−
9 and
−
11 % in total
cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, respectively. No difference in change in plasma levels of in
fl
ammatory markers (high-sensitive C-reactive
protein, IL-6, soluble TNF receptor 1 and interferon-
γ
) was observed between the groups. In conclusion, exchanging a few regularly
consumed food items with improved fat quality reduces total cholesterol, with no negative effect on levels of inflammatory markers. This
shows that an exchange of a few commercially available food items was easy and manageable and led to clinically relevant cholesterol
reduction, potentially affecting future CVD risk