Nutritional status and vitamin A profile of lactovegetarians

Abstract

This study entitled 'Nutritional status and vitamin A profile of lactovegetarians' was conducted among female (18-22 year old) resident college students (15 lactovegetarians and 15 omnivores) inorder to assess the nutritional status and vitamin A profile of healthy lactovegetarians in comparison with omnivores. To achieve the above goal, current dietary pattern, actual food and nutrient intake, clinical and nutritional status, serum retinol and p- carotene levels as well as the socio-personal characteristics of subjects were evaluated using standard techniques. Among the subjects, 93.33 per cent lactovegetarians and 66.67 per cent omnivores were Hindus and the rest were C ristians. All belonged to upper middle income strata. The lactovegetarians had a significantly higher income than omnivores. The dietary history of the subjects when assessed revealed that all omnivores and eight lactovegetarians had been following the same dietary pattern since childhood while the remaining had changed to vegetarianisms since 10 years or more. When the current meal pattern and actual food intake were assessed for a period of seven days through weighment it was found that the hostel diet is ill balanced and supplies inadequate amounts of pulses (65 per cent), leafy vegetables (98 per cent), fruits (65 per cent), oil (50 per cent), milk (lactovegetarians 32 per cent), meat and egg (omnivores 49 per cent). The percapita intake of protein, calcium, Iron, riboflavin, niacm and fibre by the lactovegetarian and omnivores were inadequate when compared to RDA. However the mean calorie intake of omnivores was found to be higher and adequate than that of lactovegetarians. Apart from dietary survey, the nutritional status of the subjects were further evaluated through anthropometry and clinical examination. The anthropometric measurements (height, weight, TST, MUAC and selected indices like BMI and WHR) which was taken twice with an interval of three months revealed no significant variation between the two groups. However the mean NSI of lactovegetarians was found to be higher than that of the omnivores though the difference was not statistically significant. Clinical examination indicated that the incidence of deficiency disorders in both groups were minimal though varied and 66.67 per cent of the subjects were found to be absolutely free from deficiency disorders, while no significant variation between the groups were observed.

As one of the objective of the study was to compare vitamin A status of the subjects, it was seen that serum retinol A/~-carotene levels of omnivores were higher (119 .54 ug/I 00 ml) than that of lactovegetarians (101.66 ~g/ 100 ml) but the difference was not statistically significant. This slight variation could be due to increased absorption and utilisation of vitamin a from animal sources. A positive and significant correlation was observed between ~-carotene level and the age and fat intake of the subjects. However vitamin A score computed from the food intake data revealed that lactovegetarians had significantly higher score (227.27 ± 0.06) than omnivores (177.60 ± 7.51) which is due to a higher intake of vegetables and fruits by lactovegetarians. The salient finding of the study is that though the lactovegetarians had a higher income, higher vitamin A score and better NSI, there was no significant difference between the lactovegetarians and omnivores when their nutritional status as well as their vitamin A status were compared.