B12 continues to be a problem in some cases and B2 can also be problematic.

Also it looks that some vegans will have elevated homocysteine levels even when B12 status is adequate but this is also true for many omnivores.

Probably this means that there are other nutritional inadequacies present for either omni or veg.

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Ann Nutr Metab. 2006 Sep 19;50(6):485-491 [Epub ahead of print]

B-Vitamin Status and Concentrations of Homocysteine in Austrian Omnivores, Vegetarians and Vegans.

Majchrzak D, Singer I, Manner M, Rust P, Genser D, Wagner KH, Elmadfa I.

Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Background: A vegetarian diet is considered to promote health and longevity and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. However, a vegetarian diet may be deficient in some nutrients. Exclusion of animal products in vegetarian diets may affect the status of certain B-vitamins, and further cause the rise of plasma homocysteine concentration. Objective: The nutritional status of various B-vitamins (B(1), B(2), B(6), B(12), folic acid) and the concentration of homocysteine in blood plasma of omnivores (n = 40), vegetarians (n = 36) and vegans (n = 42) in Austria was evaluated. Methods: The evaluation was done using the functional parameters erythrocyte transketolase (ETK), glutathione reductase (EGR) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (EGOT) activation coefficients. Enzyme activity was measured photometrically. The quantity of vitamins B(1), B(2) and B(6) in urine and the concentrations of vitamin B(6) and homocysteine in plasma were determined by HPLC methods with fluorescence detection. Plasma concentration of vitamin B(12) and folic acid were measured with radioimmunoassay.

Results:

Most of the subjects showed a satisfying vitamin B(1) status.

Vegans presented a significantly lower mean plasma vitamin B(12) concentration than omnivores and vegetarians and deficiency in 2.4% of the volunteers but the highest mean value of plasma folate among the investigated groups.

A deficient status of folate was found in 18% of omnivores and in approximately 10% of vegans and vegetarians.

The status of riboflavin is considered to be deficient in about 10% of omnivores and vegetarians and in over 30% of vegans.

According to the activation coefficient of GOT, approximately one third of all subjects showed vitamin B(6) deficiency.

Elevated homocysteine concentration in plasma was observed in 66% of the vegans and about 45-50% of the omnivores and vegetarians. Vegan subjects had significantly higher mean plasma homocysteine levels than omnivores.

Conclusion:

Thiamin and folate need not be a problem in a well-planned vegan diet. Vitamins B(12) and B(2) may need attention in the strict vegan diet, especially regarding elevated homocysteine levels in plasma. Pyridoxine status appeared to be independent of the diet.

Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.

PMID: 16988496 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]


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Mutat Res. 2006 Sep 13; [Epub ahead of print] Related Articles, Links

The relationship between micronuclei in human lymphocytes and selected micronutrients in vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

Kazimirova A, Barancokova M, Krajcovicova-Kudlackova M, Volkovova K, Staruchova M, Valachovicova M, Paukova V, Blazicek P, Wsolova L, Dusinska M.

Research Base of Slovak Medical University, Institute of Preventive and Clinical Medicine, Limbova 14, 833 01 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

A vegetarian diet results in higher intake of vitamins and micronutrients, which - although providing antioxidant defence - may lead to deficiency in other micronutrients involved in DNA metabolism and stability (such as vitamins belonging to the B group). The principal difference among various vegetarian diets is the extent to which animal products are avoided. We have performed a pilot study to determine the relationship between the micronucleus frequency in lymphocytes and diet, and we compared the levels of Vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, B(12), folic acid, homocysteine and total antioxidant capacity in healthy vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The vegetarian group, consisting of 24 volunteers (13 women and 11 men), were matched for age and sex with 24 volunteers (12 women and 12 men) with a traditional dietary habit. Among the vegetarians were 13 lacto-ovo-vegetarians with average duration of vegetarian diet 10.8 years (ranging from 5 to 26 years) and 11 lacto-vegetarians with average duration of vegetarian diet 8.2 years (ranging from 3 to 15 years). Homocysteine, Vitamins C and E and beta-carotene levels in plasma were assayed by HPLC, and serum folate and Vitamin B(12) were determined with Elecsys Immunoassay tests. The total antioxidant capacity of plasma was estimated by measuring the ferric-reducing activity in a spectrophotometric assay. Micronuclei were measured in cytokinesis-blocked lymphocytes.

Results:
Vegetarians had significantly higher levels of Vitamin C and beta-carotene (but not Vitamin E) in plasma compared with non-vegetarians (P<0.001).

There were no significant differences in serum levels of folic acid and Vitamin B(12) between the monitored groups. Levels of folic acid in vegetarians correlated with length of vegetarianism (r=0.62, P=0.001, N=24).

Vegetarians had elevated levels of homocysteine compared with non-vegetarians (P=0.007), as did vegetarian women compared with non-vegetarian women (P=0.031).

We did not find any differences in total antioxidant capacity or in micronucleus frequency between the groups. Micronuclei correlated with age (r=0.62, P<0.001, N=48), women having higher frequencies than men. Multifactorial regression analysis showed significant effects of age, sex and total antioxidant capacity on micronucleus frequency (N=48, P<0.001).

PMID: 16978915 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

My Kombucha has 40% US-RDA of B2 (and supposedly 40% of B12 also).

Question: If you are deficient in B12 what would you be craving?

I don't know if you will crave anything. After 16 years of not eating flesh (14 years vegetarian and 2 years vegan) I still find flesh foods repulsive. But not cheese, sometimes I still want that.

But cheese is different in that it has opiate peptides that might in themselves be addictive.

Neal Barnard (of PCRM) is going to be conducting a clinical trial to see if he can measure a rise of opiate peptides in the blood after cheese eating.
[www.clinicaltrials.gov]

I am now getting my b12 from supplements or an occasional multi or fortified foods.