Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1146 |
| Journal | NUTRIENTS |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Early online date | 22 May 2019 |
| Publication status | Published - May 2019 |
Abstract
Vegetarian diets have gained popularity in sports. However, few data exist on the status of micronutrients and related biomarkers for vegetarian and vegan athletes. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the micronutrient status of omnivorous (OMN, n = 27), lacto-ovo-vegetarian (LOV, n = 26), and vegan (VEG, n = 28) recreational runners. Biomarkers of vitamin B 12, folate, vitamin D, and iron were assessed. Additionally, serum levels of calcium, magnesium, and zinc were examined. Lifestyle factors and supplement intake were recorded via questionnaires. About 80% of each group showed vitamin B 12 adequacy with higher levels in supplement users. Mean red blood cell folate exceeded the reference range (>340 nmol/L) in all three groups (OMN: 2213 ± 444, LOV: 2236 ± 596, and VEG: 2354 ± 639 nmol/L; not significant, n.s.). Furthermore, vitamin D levels were comparable (OMN: 90.6 ± 32.1, LOV: 76.8 ± 33.7, and VEG: 86.2 ± 39.5 nmol/L; n.s.), and we found low prevalence (<20%) of vitamin D inadequacy in all three groups. Less than 30% of each group had depleted iron stores, however, iron deficiency anemia was not found in any subject. Our findings suggest that a well-planned, health-conscious lacto-ovo-vegetarian and vegan diet, including supplements, can meet the athlete’s requirements of vitamin B 12, vitamin D and iron.
Keywords
- Adult, Biomarkers/blood, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diet, Diet, Vegan, Diet, Vegetarian, Humans, Iron/administration & dosage, Male, Micronutrients/administration & dosage, Nutritional Requirements, Nutritional Status, Running/physiology, Vegans, Vitamin B 12/administration & dosage, Vitamin D/administration & dosage, Vitamin D Deficiency/blood, Recreational athletes, Vegetarianism, Nutrient status, Veganism, Nutrient supply
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Food Science
- Nursing(all)
- Nutrition and Dietetics
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In: NUTRIENTS, Vol. 11, No. 5, 1146, 05.2019.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Micronutrient Status of Recreational Runners with Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian Dietary Patterns
AU - Nebl, Josefine
AU - Schuchardt, Jan Philipp
AU - Ströhle, Alexander
AU - Wasserfurth, Paulina
AU - Haufe, Sven
AU - Eigendorf, Julian
AU - Tegtbur, Uwe
AU - Hahn, Andreas
N1 - Funding information: Acknowledgments: We would like to thank the participants who contributed their time to this study. publication of this article was funded by the Open Access Fund of the Leibniz Universität Hannover.
PY - 2019/5
Y1 - 2019/5
N2 - Vegetarian diets have gained popularity in sports. However, few data exist on the status of micronutrients and related biomarkers for vegetarian and vegan athletes. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the micronutrient status of omnivorous (OMN, n = 27), lacto-ovo-vegetarian (LOV, n = 26), and vegan (VEG, n = 28) recreational runners. Biomarkers of vitamin B 12, folate, vitamin D, and iron were assessed. Additionally, serum levels of calcium, magnesium, and zinc were examined. Lifestyle factors and supplement intake were recorded via questionnaires. About 80% of each group showed vitamin B 12 adequacy with higher levels in supplement users. Mean red blood cell folate exceeded the reference range (>340 nmol/L) in all three groups (OMN: 2213 ± 444, LOV: 2236 ± 596, and VEG: 2354 ± 639 nmol/L; not significant, n.s.). Furthermore, vitamin D levels were comparable (OMN: 90.6 ± 32.1, LOV: 76.8 ± 33.7, and VEG: 86.2 ± 39.5 nmol/L; n.s.), and we found low prevalence (<20%) of vitamin D inadequacy in all three groups. Less than 30% of each group had depleted iron stores, however, iron deficiency anemia was not found in any subject. Our findings suggest that a well-planned, health-conscious lacto-ovo-vegetarian and vegan diet, including supplements, can meet the athlete’s requirements of vitamin B 12, vitamin D and iron.
AB - Vegetarian diets have gained popularity in sports. However, few data exist on the status of micronutrients and related biomarkers for vegetarian and vegan athletes. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the micronutrient status of omnivorous (OMN, n = 27), lacto-ovo-vegetarian (LOV, n = 26), and vegan (VEG, n = 28) recreational runners. Biomarkers of vitamin B 12, folate, vitamin D, and iron were assessed. Additionally, serum levels of calcium, magnesium, and zinc were examined. Lifestyle factors and supplement intake were recorded via questionnaires. About 80% of each group showed vitamin B 12 adequacy with higher levels in supplement users. Mean red blood cell folate exceeded the reference range (>340 nmol/L) in all three groups (OMN: 2213 ± 444, LOV: 2236 ± 596, and VEG: 2354 ± 639 nmol/L; not significant, n.s.). Furthermore, vitamin D levels were comparable (OMN: 90.6 ± 32.1, LOV: 76.8 ± 33.7, and VEG: 86.2 ± 39.5 nmol/L; n.s.), and we found low prevalence (<20%) of vitamin D inadequacy in all three groups. Less than 30% of each group had depleted iron stores, however, iron deficiency anemia was not found in any subject. Our findings suggest that a well-planned, health-conscious lacto-ovo-vegetarian and vegan diet, including supplements, can meet the athlete’s requirements of vitamin B 12, vitamin D and iron.
KW - Adult
KW - Biomarkers/blood
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Diet
KW - Diet, Vegan
KW - Diet, Vegetarian
KW - Humans
KW - Iron/administration & dosage
KW - Male
KW - Micronutrients/administration & dosage
KW - Nutritional Requirements
KW - Nutritional Status
KW - Running/physiology
KW - Vegans
KW - Vitamin B 12/administration & dosage
KW - Vitamin D/administration & dosage
KW - Vitamin D Deficiency/blood
KW - Recreational athletes
KW - Vegetarianism
KW - Nutrient status
KW - Veganism
KW - Nutrient supply
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85066790080&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/nu11051146
DO - 10.3390/nu11051146
M3 - Article
C2 - 31121930
VL - 11
JO - NUTRIENTS
JF - NUTRIENTS
SN - 2072-6643
IS - 5
M1 - 1146
ER -