TY - JOUR
T1 - Homocysteine and cobalamin status in German vegans
AU - Waldmann, Annika
AU - Koschizke, Jochen W.
AU - Leitzmann, Claus
AU - Hahn, Andreas
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by the Stoll VITA Foundation, Waldshut-Tiengen, Germany and the EDEN Foundation, Bad Soden, Germany.
PY - 2004/5
Y1 - 2004/5
N2 - Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the homocysteine and cobalamin status of German vegans and determine whether the intake of very small amounts of foods of animal origin can improve this status. Design and setting: Cross-sectional study, Germany. Subjects: The dietary and nutritional intakes of 131 vegans (73 women, 58 men; age range: 20.2-82.1 years) were evaluated using a general questionnaire and two food-frequency questionnaires. Results: The prevalence of inadequate cobalamin status in volunteers of the German Vegan Study was 28.2%, and that of hyperhomocysteinaemia, 38.1%. Moderate vegans were affected to a lesser extent than were strict vegans. Duration of veganism and cobalamin concentration were inversely correlated (Spearman's r= - 0.175, P = 0.047). Folate concentration and erythrocyte aspartic acid aminotransferase activity were not correlated with plasma homocysteine concentration, but duration of veganism correlated positively with homocysteine concentration (Spearman's r= 0.319, P < 0.001). Cobalamin and homocysteine concentrations were inversely correlated (when controlling for duration of veganism; r= -0.602, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Cobalamin status needs to be improved in order to minimise the risk of hyperhomocysteinaemia.
AB - Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the homocysteine and cobalamin status of German vegans and determine whether the intake of very small amounts of foods of animal origin can improve this status. Design and setting: Cross-sectional study, Germany. Subjects: The dietary and nutritional intakes of 131 vegans (73 women, 58 men; age range: 20.2-82.1 years) were evaluated using a general questionnaire and two food-frequency questionnaires. Results: The prevalence of inadequate cobalamin status in volunteers of the German Vegan Study was 28.2%, and that of hyperhomocysteinaemia, 38.1%. Moderate vegans were affected to a lesser extent than were strict vegans. Duration of veganism and cobalamin concentration were inversely correlated (Spearman's r= - 0.175, P = 0.047). Folate concentration and erythrocyte aspartic acid aminotransferase activity were not correlated with plasma homocysteine concentration, but duration of veganism correlated positively with homocysteine concentration (Spearman's r= 0.319, P < 0.001). Cobalamin and homocysteine concentrations were inversely correlated (when controlling for duration of veganism; r= -0.602, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Cobalamin status needs to be improved in order to minimise the risk of hyperhomocysteinaemia.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=4344704166&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1079/PHN2003540
DO - 10.1079/PHN2003540
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 15153278
AN - SCOPUS:4344704166
VL - 7
SP - 467
EP - 472
JO - Public Health Nutrition
JF - Public Health Nutrition
SN - 1368-9800
IS - 3
ER -