Homocysteine Levels in Vegetarians versus Omnivores

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism 2000, Vol.44 (3), p.135-138
• Main Authors: KRAJCOVICOVA-KUDLACKOVA, M, BLAZICEK, P, KOPCOVA, J, BEDEROVA, A, BABINSKA, K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Biological and medical sciences; Diet; Diet, Vegetarian - adverse effects; Environment. Living conditions; Female; Folic Acid - administration & dosage; Folic Acid - blood; Homocysteine - blood; Homocysteine - metabolism; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Methionine - administration & dosage; Middle Aged; Original Paper; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Slovakia - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vitamin B 12 - administration & dosage; Vitamin B 12 - blood; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency - complications; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0250-6807; 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000012827

Vitamin B₁₂, folate, and vitamin B₆ are the main determinants of homocysteinemia. The vegan diet provides no vitamin B₁₂, 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 µmol/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 µmol/l (53% of the individual values exceeded 15 µmol/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 B₁₂ and folate were evaluated in relation to the homocysteine level. The serum vitamin B₁₂ 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 B₁₂ deficiency.