Objective: The study was designed to investigate the iron intake and status of Australian, male vegetarians aged between 20 and 50 y. Design: Cross-sectional comparison of male vegetarians and age/sex matched omnivores. Setting: Free-living community subjects. Subjects: 39 ovolactovegetarians, 10 vegans and 25 omnivores were recruited by local advertisement. Outcome measures: A 12-d semiquantitative dietary record to assess iron and zinc intake. Iron status was assessed by measurement of serum ferritin and haemoglobin concentrations. Results: Mean (s.d.) daily iron intakes of both the ovolactovegetarians (20.4 (7.7) mg/d) and vegans (22.9 (6.2) mg/d), were significantly higher than the omnivores' intake of 15.8 (4.5) mg/d. Ovo-lactovegetarians and vegans had significantly (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively) lower serum ferritin concentrations than omnivores: mean (s.d.): 64 (46.9), 65 (49.9) and 121 (72.5) ng/ml, respectively. Significantly more ovolactovegetarians and vegans than omnivores had serum ferritin concentrations below 25 ng/ml and below 12 ng/ml (P < 0.05). A higher proportion of omnivores had concentrations above 200 ng/ml (P < 0.05). The differences in serum fenilin concentrations between the vegetarians and omnivores remained significant even after exclusion of iron supplement users. Conclusion: Australian male vegetarians had iron intakes higher than those of omnivores and above recommended levels, but their iron status was significantly lower.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Medical Physiology
Research Field:	Medical Physiology not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Other Health
Objective Field:	Health not elsewhere classified
Author:	Ball, MJ (Professor Madeleine Ball)
ID Code:	21415
Year Published:	1999
Web of Science® Times Cited:	32
Deposited By:	Health Sciences A
Deposited On:	2001-11-23
Last Modified:	2011-08-05
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