Veganism: Vitamin B12 is well integrated, iodine is a cause for concern



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There was no significant difference in vitamin B12, which was present in approximately the same amount in the blood of both groups. Since vitamin B12 is absorbed almost exclusively from animal food, the contribution of participants following a vegan diet could be due to the intake through food supplements. “This study compares a vegan diet with a mixed diet for a variety of vitamins and trace elements,” says BfR President Professor Dr. Andreas Hensel. “Both diets studied revealed a lack of iodine. However, the deficiency is clearly more evident in the vegan variant.”

In the RBVD study, the BfR research team analyzed blood and urine samples and evaluated lifestyle questionnaires and dietary protocols. Among the participants (18 women and men respectively per age group between 30 and 60 years), almost all those following a vegan diet and a third following a mixed diet took different food supplements.

The results of the study were particularly noteworthy with regards to the trace element iodine. The measured iodine excretion in urine samples provides information on how well the body receives the trace element. Most of the participants had a deficiency. The deficiency was significantly more pronounced among vegans: in one third of them, the level was below 20 micrograms per liter (μg / L), the limit defined by the World Health Organization (WHO); anything below this represents a serious shortage. A vegan diet, however, has also shown health benefits, such as higher fiber intake and lower cholesterol levels. For both diets, approximately 10% of the participants had an iron deficiency.

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Deutsches Ärzteblatt has now published the results of the study:

https: //www.aerzteblatt.from/int /archive /article /215079

About the BfR

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientifically independent institution that is part of the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in Germany. He advises the German Federal Government and the German Federal States (“Laender”) on food, chemical and product safety issues. The BfR conducts its research on issues closely related to its evaluation tasks.

This text version is a translation of the original German text which is the only legally binding version.

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