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Haematological studies on vegans

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

T. A. B. Sanders ,
F. R. Ellis  and
J. W. T. Dickerson
T. A. B. Sanders
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Kingston Hospital, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, KT2 7BD
F. R. Ellis
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Kingston Hospital, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, KT2 7BD
J. W. T. Dickerson
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition Division, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 5XH
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Abstract

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1. The concentrations of vitamin B12 and folate in the serum and folate in the erythrocytes were determined and full blood counts made on a series of caucasian vegans and omnivore controls.

2. The blood counts and films were normal in all the vegans and no subject had a haemoglobin concentration below the lower limit of normality.

3. Although within the normal range, male but not female vegans had lower values for erythrocyte counts and higher values for mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin than their controls regardless of whether they were taking vitamin B12 supplements or not.

4. The mean serum vitamin B12 concentration was lower in the vegans not taking vitamin B12 supplements and in those using foods supplemented with the vitamin than in the controls, but in no subject was it below 80 ng/l.

5. The serum folate concentrations were higher in the vegans than in their controls. The mean value for erythrocyte folate tended to be greater in the vegans not taking vitamin B12 supplements. No subject had an erythrocyte folate concentration of less than 100μg/l.

6. It is concluded that megaloblastic anaemia is very rare in caucasian vegans and that a diet consisting entirely of plant foods is generally adequate to promote normal blood formation providing it is composed of a mixture of unrefined cereals, pulses, nuts, fruit and vegetables and is supplemented with vitamin B12.

Type
Papers of direct relevance to Clinical and Human Nutrition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 40 , Issue 1 , July 1978 , pp. 9 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1978

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