Homocysteine and cobalamin status in German vegans
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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.
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Similar vitamin B12 status data to EPIC-Oxford have been reproduced in United States and Germany large cohort studies.
“with similar data reproduced in United States and Germany large cohort studies [225, 235]”
From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [235]
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References 41 · Cited by 46
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- Authors
- Waldmann, A., Koschizke, J. W., Leitzmann, C., & Hahn, A.
- Affiliations
- Leibniz University Hannover (DE)
- Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Hahn, Andreas
- Venue
- Public Health Nutrition
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2004-05
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 467-472
- ISSN
- 1368-9800 (ISSN-L)
- 1475-2727
- OpenAlex
- W2120602840
- Cited by
- 46
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 1.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Public Health Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Institutional Repository of Leibniz Universität Hannover (Leibniz Universität Hannover) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Leibniz Universität Hannover
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Folate and B Vitamins Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutrition and Health Studies
- Keywords
- homocysteine, cobalamin status, vegan diet, hyperhomocysteinemia, dietary intake, folic acid, aspartate aminotransferase
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Folic Acid, Germany, Homocysteine, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nutritional Status, Diet, Vegetarian, Vitamin B 12, Vitamin B 12 Deficiency, Body Mass Index, Prevalence
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