Nutritional status and vitamin A profile of lacto vegetarians
Loading...
Files
Date
2002
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Home Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani
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.
Description
PG
Keywords
null
Citation
172083