Vitamin B-12 status in a macrobiotic community

Article Abstract:

Vitamin B-12 is an nutrient essential for DNA (genetic material) synthesis and red blood cell development. Prolonged vitamin B-12 deficiency results in pernicious anemia, neurologic deficits and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Vitamin B-12 is only available from animal foods, including eggs and dairy products, which are avoided by strict vegetarians. Thus, vegetarians are considered to be at risk for vitamin B-12 deficiency. The vitamin B-12 status was evaluated in a group of 110 adults and 42 children who were on macrobiotic diets. Such diets usually contain up to 60 percent whole grains, 5 percent soup, up to 25 percent vegetables, and up to 10 percent beans and sea vegetables. Seafood is sometimes eaten, while there is minimal intake of dairy foods, eggs, vitamins, and meat. Half the adults had low blood levels of vitamin B-12, and levels correlated with the length of time they had been on the vegetarian diet. Thirty percent of the subjects had high urinary levels of methylmalonic acid (MMA), a molecule that accumulates in the absence of vitamin B-12, and the levels correlated significantly and inversely with vitamin B-12 levels. Vitamin B-12 levels were significantly lower in adults who never consumed dairy foods, compared to those who did consume them from time to time. Vitamin B-12 levels did not correlate with intake of soy products or of sea vegetables thought to contain the vitamin. Half of children had high urinary levels of MMA, and the levels were significantly higher in children who had been on a vegetarian diet their entire lives. As with adults, only ingestion of dairy foods was related to lower MMA levels. Eight of 11 children who were below the fifth percentile for height had high urinary MMA levels, but there were no significant correlations between MMA levels, height, and particular food consumption. This is probably related to inadequacy of other nutrients. The study indicates that vegetarians adhering to strict nonanimal food diets are likely to develop marginal or inadequate levels of vitamin B-12. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Causes of, Vegetarians, Vitamin B12

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Growth, nutrient retention, and metabolic response of low-birth-weight infants fed supplemented and unsupplemented preterm human milk

Article Abstract:

Low-birth-weight (LBW) preterm infants need optimal nutrition in order to complete the rapid growth that normally occurs during the last part of pregnancy. These babies can be breast-fed, and while their mothers' milk can support adequate weight gain, the infants do not retain enough calcium, phosphorus, and possibly also magnesium. Studies investigating their retention of protein have yielded conflicting results, with some concluding that protein retention is adequate and others finding it is insufficient. Studies have been conducted in which the preterm human milk was supplemented with additional human milk protein and other nutrients. While this supplementation has been beneficial in supporting better growth, human milk protein is not available as a commercial product and it is unlikely that it could be made available at a reasonable cost. In this study, a more practical supplement for LBW breast-fed babies was developed that contained cow's milk protein, calcium, phosphorus and sodium. It was hoped that this formula would compensate for any nutritional deficits in the breast milk. In order to test the supplement, LBW infants whose mothers chose to breast feed were assigned to receive their mothers' milk either with or without the supplement; 14 babies who did not receive the supplement and 13 who did completed the study. The growth and nutrient retention of the babies were measured, which showed that weight gain, protein retention, and levels of the blood protein albumin were better with the supplement than without. Calcium and phosphorus were also retained at a greater rate in the supplemented group. Additional research is needed into providing optimal nutrition for LBW breast-fed babies, but the supplement used appeared beneficial. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Infants (Premature), Birth weight, Low, Premature infants, Low birth weight, Growth

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Vitamin B-12: low milk concentrations are related to low serum concentrations in vegetarian women and to methylmalonic aciduria in their infants

Article Abstract:

Human milk provides a dietary source of vitamin B-12 for nursing infants. Women consuming a vegetarian diet have lower levels of vitamin B-12 in their breast milk. Furthermore, reduced levels of vitamin B-12 in the milk of women consuming vegetarian diets has been correlated with vitamin B-12 deficiency in their nursing infants. Vitamin B-12 levels in maternal milk and serum, and infant urinary methylmalonic acid (an indicator of vitamin B-12 status, MMA) were compared in 13 vegetarian and 6 omnivorous lactating women. Vitamin B-12 levels in milk were lower in the vegetarian diet group than in the omnivorous diet group. Breast milk and serum vitamin B-12 levels were positively correlated in both diet groups. Urinary MMA levels were higher in infants and mothers in the vegetarian group than in the omnivorous diet group. These results demonstrate that vitamin B-12 levels in maternal milk are reduced in women consuming a vegetarian diet, are positively correlated with vitamin B-12 levels in maternal serum, and are inversely related to urinary MMA levels in their infants. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Diet therapy, Malonates

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