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Intake of vitamin B12 and other characteristics of women of reproductive age on a vegan diet in Australia.
- Source :
- Public Health Nutrition; Oct2021, Vol. 24 Issue 14, p4397-4407, 11p
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- <bold>Objective: </bold>(i) To examine demographic and health characteristics of women of reproductive age on a vegan diet in Australia and compare these to the general population; (ii) to identify sources and intake of vitamin B12 and compare intake to current recommendations and (iii) examine associations between participant characteristics and adequacy of vitamin B12 intake.<bold>Design: </bold>In this cross-sectional study, data were collected via an online survey. Demographic and health characteristics of women on a vegan diet were compared with women in the general population (using Australian Bureau of Statistics data). Intake of vitamin B12 was estimated using a FFQ and estimation of supplemental intake.<bold>Setting: </bold>Australia.<bold>Participants: </bold>Participants (n 1530) were women aged 18-44 years who had been on a vegan diet for at least 6 months.<bold>Results: </bold>While BMI, smoking habits and intakes of fruit and vegetables compared favourably with the general population, 26 % of respondents had estimated intakes of vitamin B12 below recommendations. Analyses of relationships between vitamin B12 intake and participant characteristics revealed that the strongest predictor of intake was supplementation (P < 0·001); however, 25 % had not supplemented with vitamin B12 in the past 3 months.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>The vitamin B12 intakes of a substantial proportion of Australian women of reproductive age consuming a vegan diet do not meet the recommended intake, which could adversely affect their health, and, if they are pregnant or lactating, that of their infants too. There is a need for further research in this area to identify effective strategies to address this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13689800
- Volume :
- 24
- Issue :
- 14
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Public Health Nutrition
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 153566674
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980021001695