April 18, 2002
NUTRITION NEWS FOCUS
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Today's Topic: Homocysteine in Vegetarians

Homocysteine is an amino acid made in the body and is now recognized
as an independent risk factor for heart disease because it is thought
to damage the lining of the arteries.  The B vitamins - folate, B6,
and B12 - all act to keep a low level of homocysteine in the blood.  A
study from the Slovak Republic reported that vegetarians have higher
levels of homocysteine than omnivores.

Omnivores usually consume recommended levels of the amino acid,
methionine.  Because this is low in plant foods, more vitamin B12 is
needed.  However, vegetarians, even lacto- and lactoovovegetarians,
have lower blood levels of vitamin B12.  The article appeared in the
May-June 2000 Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Below-normal levels of
vitamin B12 were found in none of the omnivores, but 26% of the
vegetarians and 78% of the vegans had below-normal levels.  Elevated
homocysteine was found in 29% of the vegetarians compared with only 5%
of the omnivores.  Even though a vegetarian diet can lower serum
cholesterol, the opposite effect on homocysteine could offset any
potential benefit.


(This story originally appeared in Nutrition News Focus on
December 5, 2000.)




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