| Peer-Reviewed

Biochemical and Dietary Indicators among Vegetarians and Non-Vegetarians: Findings from a Cross Sectional Study in Rural Bangladesh

Received: 5 May 2013     Published: 20 May 2013
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Well-planned vegetarian diet provides numerous health benefits and is appropriate for all stages of life cycle. On the other hand, vegetarians often suffer from lower level or are deficient with different micro as well as macro nutrients. This ultimately led the study to determine and compare dietary intake and biochemical concentration of macro and micronutrients of vegetarian and non-vegetarian individuals. This cross sectional study was conducted during April-September 2010. Sixty six vegetarian and 66 non-vegetarian healthy adult aged 40 years and above were enrolled from the Demographic Surveillance System area of Mirzapur sub-district under Tangail district of rural Bangladesh. Five milliliters (5.0 ml) of venous blood was collected for the biochemical analysis. Dietary assessment involved 24-hour food recall method. This study revealed that, vegetarians had similar BMI compared to non-vegetarians. Biochemical analysis unveiled mean level of folic acid to be significantly higher (23.1±12.7 vs. 16.9±8.8, p=0.002) and mean level of vitamin B12 (134.9±46.2 vs. 217.6±95.6, p<0.001) to be significantly lower in vegetarians compared to non-vegetarians. From dietary history, mean calorie intake (1671.9±788.5 kcal vs. 1908.9±574.5 kcal, p=0.013) and macronutrient (median value; per day) consumption was found lower [carbohydrate (334.5 gm vs. 385.1 gm, p=0.048); protein (34.9 gm vs. 53.9 gm, p<0.001); fat (7.7 gm vs. 12.7 gm, p=0.020)] in non-vegetarian group compared to vegetarian individuals. In multivariate analysis of biochemical indicators, individuals being vegetarian impacted on decreased level of vitamin B12 (74.02 pmol/L) and increased level of folic acid (6.34 nmol/L). Multivariate analysis of dietary indicators revealed, individuals being vegetarian has an impact on decreased intake of protein (7.85 gm) and increased intake of log transformed β-carotene (0.61 mcg). These results suggest that, vegetarians in rural Bangladesh have lower intake of protein and micronutrients specially vitamin B 12; but increased intake of folic acid and β-carotene. Assessment of these outcomes affirms further study

Published in International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130203.16
Page(s) 130-136
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Bangladesh, Calorie, Folic Acid, Non-Vegetarian, Vegetarian, Vitamin B-12

References
[1] Michalak, J., X. C. Zhang, and F. Jacobi, Vegetarian diet and mental disorders: results from a representative community survey. , International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 9 (2012).
[2] Elmadfa, I. and I. Singer, Vitamin B-12 and homocysteine status among vegetarians: a global perspective, Am J Clin Nutr, 89 (2009) 1693S-1698S.
[3] Craig, W. J., Health effects of vegan diets, Am J Clin Nutr, 89 (2009) 1627S-1633S.
[4] Nakamoto, K., et al., A new Japanese vegetarian food guide, Asia Pac J Public Health, 21 (2009) 160-9.
[5] Dunham, L. and L. M. Kollar, Vegetarian eating for children and adolescents, J Pediatr Health Care, 20 (2006) 27-34.
[6] Povey, R., B. Wellens, and M. Conner, Attitudes towards following meat, vegetarian and vegan diets: an examination of the role of ambivalence, Appetite, 37 (2001) 15-26.
[7] Forouzanfar, M. H., et al., Assessing the global burden of ischemic heart disease, part 2: analytic methods and estimates of the global epidemiology of ischemic heart disease in 2010, Glob Heart, 7 (2012) 331-342.
[8] Murray, C. J., et al., Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 291 diseases and injuries in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010, Lancet, 380 (2012) 2197-223.
[9] Norrving, B. and B. Kissela, The global burden of stroke and need for a continuum of care, Neurology, 80 (2013) S5-12.
[10] Song, S. H., Emerging type 2 diabetes in young adults, Adv Exp Med Biol, 771 (2012) 51-61.
[11] Walker, P., et al., Public health implications of meat production and consumption, Public Health Nutr, 8 (2005) 348-56.
[12] Djousse, L., et al., Fruit and vegetable consumption and LDL cholesterol: the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study, Am J Clin Nutr, 79 (2004) 213-7.
[13] Higuchi, H., et al., Effects of the Vegetarian Diet on the Blood Rheology of Middle-aged Women [in Japanese], Memoirs of Osaka Kyoiku University II Social Science and Home Economics, 54 (2005) 1-9.
[14] Vitamin B12: Dietary supplementation fact sheet: Office of dietary supplemants. National Instinute of Health. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/ (accessed on: 02 May, 2013) (June 2011).
[15] Noncommunicable diseases country profiles 2011. WHO global report in Noncommunicable diseases and mental health 2011, WHO: Genava. p. 209.
[16] Ramaraj, R. and P. Chellappa, Cardiovascular risk in South Asians, Postgrad Med J, 84 (2008) 518-23.
[17] Das, S. K., et al., Nutrition and lipid profile in general population and vegetarian individuals living in rural Bangladesh, Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy, 2 (2012).
[18] Rice, E.W., Rapid determination of total hemoglobin as hemiglobin cyanide in blood containing carboxyhemoglobin, Clin Chim Acta, 18 (1967) 89-91.
[19] HU, B., H. M, and R. R, International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) Scientific Committee, Analytical Section: approved recommendation (1985) on IFCC methods for the measurement of catalytic concentration of enzymes. Part 3. IFCC method for alanine aminotransferase (L-alanine: 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.2)24: 481-495, J Clin Chem Clin Biochem 24 (1986).
[20] Gindler, E. M. and J. D. King, Rapid colorimetric determination of calcium in biologic fluids with methylthymol blue, Am J Clin Pathol, 58 (1972) 376-82.
[21] Doumas, B. T., W. A. Watson, and H. G. Biggs, Albumin standards and the measurement of serum albumin with bromcresol green, Clin Chim Acta, 31 (1971) 87-96.
[22] Driskell, W. J., et al., Measurement of vitamin A and vitamin E in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography, J Chromatogr, 231 (1982) 439-44.
[23] Foster-Swanson A SM, Roberts P, Feld R, Johnson M, S W, et al. (1994) Reference interval Studies of the Rate-Blanked Creatinine/Jaffe Method on BM/Hitachi Systems in six U.S. Laboratories Clin Chem. Clin Chem 40: 1057
[24] AOAC, AOAC Official Methods of Analysis (1990) 15thed. 2nd Supplement, (1991) 81.
[25] Willett, W. C., 24-Hour Dietary Recall and Food Record Methods. 2 ed. Nutritional Epidemiology, ed. W.C. Willett. 2011: Oxford Scholarship Online.
[26] Wiesmann, D., et al., Explanation of the weighting scheme for the Food Consumption Score (FCS). In:Validation of the world food programme's food consumption score and alternative indicators of household food security. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute, 10 (2009).
[27] Tohill, B. C., Dietary intake of fruit and vegetables and management of body weight, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alanta, USA, WHO, 2005.
[28] Poian D., A.T. El-Bacha, T. & Luz, M.R.M.P, Nutrient metabolism in humans: metabolism pathways, Nature Education, 3(9):11, (2010).
[29] Douglas, G., Introduction to Dairy Science and Technology: Milk History, Consumption, Production, and Composition, Dairy Science and Technology, University of Guelph. 2011.
[30] Beta-carotene, University of Maryland Medical Centre, http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/beta-carotene- 000286. htm (accessed on 12 May 2013).
[31] A Houlihan, M Pyke, P Scheelings, G Graham, G Eaglesham, T O’Hare, L Wong, P Puwastien and W Jongjitsin, Folate content of Asian Vegetables, Australian Government: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, 2011.
[32] Human vitamin and mineral requirements, Report of a joint FAO/WHO expert consultation, Bangkok, Thailand, 2002.
[33] Piyathilake, C.J., et al, Local and systemic effects of cigarette smoking on folate and vitamin B-12, Am J Clin Nutr, 60 (1994) 559-66.
[34] Anna, F. L., Keynote Paper: Individual food intake survey methods, National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research, Rome, Italy, http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/Y4249E/y4249e0a. htm (cited on 13.05.2013).
[35] Deriemaeker, P., et al., Nutritional status of Flemish vegetarians compared with non-vegetarians: a matched samples study, Nutrients, 2 (2010) 770-80.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Fahmida Dil Farzana, Shahnawaz Ahmed, Farzana Ferdous, Lana Vanderlee, Soroar Hossain Khan, et al. (2013). Biochemical and Dietary Indicators among Vegetarians and Non-Vegetarians: Findings from a Cross Sectional Study in Rural Bangladesh. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 2(3), 130-136. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130203.16

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Fahmida Dil Farzana; Shahnawaz Ahmed; Farzana Ferdous; Lana Vanderlee; Soroar Hossain Khan, et al. Biochemical and Dietary Indicators among Vegetarians and Non-Vegetarians: Findings from a Cross Sectional Study in Rural Bangladesh. Int. J. Nutr. Food Sci. 2013, 2(3), 130-136. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130203.16

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Fahmida Dil Farzana, Shahnawaz Ahmed, Farzana Ferdous, Lana Vanderlee, Soroar Hossain Khan, et al. Biochemical and Dietary Indicators among Vegetarians and Non-Vegetarians: Findings from a Cross Sectional Study in Rural Bangladesh. Int J Nutr Food Sci. 2013;2(3):130-136. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130203.16

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130203.16,
      author = {Fahmida Dil Farzana and Shahnawaz Ahmed and Farzana Ferdous and Lana Vanderlee and Soroar Hossain Khan and Anjan Kumar Roy and Mohammod Jobayer Chisti and Abu Syed Golam Faruque and Sumon Kumar Das},
      title = {Biochemical and Dietary Indicators among Vegetarians and Non-Vegetarians: Findings from a Cross Sectional Study in Rural Bangladesh},
      journal = {International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences},
      volume = {2},
      number = {3},
      pages = {130-136},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130203.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130203.16},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnfs.20130203.16},
      abstract = {Well-planned vegetarian diet provides numerous health benefits and is appropriate for all stages of life cycle. On the other hand, vegetarians often suffer from lower level or are deficient with different micro as well as macro nutrients. This ultimately led the study to determine and compare dietary intake and biochemical concentration of macro and micronutrients of vegetarian and non-vegetarian individuals. This cross sectional study was conducted during April-September 2010. Sixty six vegetarian and 66 non-vegetarian healthy adult aged 40 years and above were enrolled from the Demographic Surveillance System area of Mirzapur sub-district under Tangail district of rural Bangladesh. Five milliliters (5.0 ml) of venous blood was collected for the biochemical analysis. Dietary assessment involved 24-hour food recall method. This study revealed that, vegetarians had similar BMI compared to non-vegetarians. Biochemical analysis unveiled mean level of folic acid to be significantly higher (23.1±12.7 vs. 16.9±8.8, p=0.002) and mean level of vitamin B12 (134.9±46.2 vs. 217.6±95.6, p<0.001) to be significantly lower in vegetarians compared to non-vegetarians. From dietary history, mean calorie intake (1671.9±788.5 kcal vs. 1908.9±574.5 kcal, p=0.013) and macronutrient (median value; per day) consumption was found lower [carbohydrate (334.5 gm vs. 385.1 gm, p=0.048); protein (34.9 gm vs. 53.9 gm, p<0.001); fat (7.7 gm vs. 12.7 gm, p=0.020)] in non-vegetarian group compared to vegetarian individuals. In multivariate analysis of biochemical indicators, individuals being vegetarian impacted on decreased level of vitamin B12 (74.02 pmol/L) and increased level of folic acid (6.34 nmol/L). Multivariate analysis of dietary indicators revealed, individuals being vegetarian has an impact on decreased intake of protein (7.85 gm) and increased intake of log transformed β-carotene (0.61 mcg). These results suggest that, vegetarians in rural Bangladesh have lower intake of protein and micronutrients specially vitamin B 12; but increased intake of folic acid and β-carotene. Assessment of these outcomes affirms further study},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Biochemical and Dietary Indicators among Vegetarians and Non-Vegetarians: Findings from a Cross Sectional Study in Rural Bangladesh
    AU  - Fahmida Dil Farzana
    AU  - Shahnawaz Ahmed
    AU  - Farzana Ferdous
    AU  - Lana Vanderlee
    AU  - Soroar Hossain Khan
    AU  - Anjan Kumar Roy
    AU  - Mohammod Jobayer Chisti
    AU  - Abu Syed Golam Faruque
    AU  - Sumon Kumar Das
    Y1  - 2013/05/20
    PY  - 2013
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130203.16
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130203.16
    T2  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JF  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    SP  - 130
    EP  - 136
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2327-2716
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130203.16
    AB  - Well-planned vegetarian diet provides numerous health benefits and is appropriate for all stages of life cycle. On the other hand, vegetarians often suffer from lower level or are deficient with different micro as well as macro nutrients. This ultimately led the study to determine and compare dietary intake and biochemical concentration of macro and micronutrients of vegetarian and non-vegetarian individuals. This cross sectional study was conducted during April-September 2010. Sixty six vegetarian and 66 non-vegetarian healthy adult aged 40 years and above were enrolled from the Demographic Surveillance System area of Mirzapur sub-district under Tangail district of rural Bangladesh. Five milliliters (5.0 ml) of venous blood was collected for the biochemical analysis. Dietary assessment involved 24-hour food recall method. This study revealed that, vegetarians had similar BMI compared to non-vegetarians. Biochemical analysis unveiled mean level of folic acid to be significantly higher (23.1±12.7 vs. 16.9±8.8, p=0.002) and mean level of vitamin B12 (134.9±46.2 vs. 217.6±95.6, p<0.001) to be significantly lower in vegetarians compared to non-vegetarians. From dietary history, mean calorie intake (1671.9±788.5 kcal vs. 1908.9±574.5 kcal, p=0.013) and macronutrient (median value; per day) consumption was found lower [carbohydrate (334.5 gm vs. 385.1 gm, p=0.048); protein (34.9 gm vs. 53.9 gm, p<0.001); fat (7.7 gm vs. 12.7 gm, p=0.020)] in non-vegetarian group compared to vegetarian individuals. In multivariate analysis of biochemical indicators, individuals being vegetarian impacted on decreased level of vitamin B12 (74.02 pmol/L) and increased level of folic acid (6.34 nmol/L). Multivariate analysis of dietary indicators revealed, individuals being vegetarian has an impact on decreased intake of protein (7.85 gm) and increased intake of log transformed β-carotene (0.61 mcg). These results suggest that, vegetarians in rural Bangladesh have lower intake of protein and micronutrients specially vitamin B 12; but increased intake of folic acid and β-carotene. Assessment of these outcomes affirms further study
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Centre for Nutrition and Food Security, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • Centre for Nutrition and Food Security, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • Centre for Nutrition and Food Security, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada

  • Centre for Nutrition and Food Security, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • Centre for Vaccine Science, Centre for Nutrition and Food Security, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • Centre for Nutrition and Food Security, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • Centre for Nutrition and Food Security, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • Centre for Nutrition and Food Security, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • Sections