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

Received: 5 May 2013    Accepted:     Published: 20 May 2013
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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), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

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

References
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Cite This Article
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    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

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    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

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    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

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  • @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}
    }
    

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  • 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  - 

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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

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