[Lipid and pro-oxidative and antioxidative parameters in the blood of vegetarians]

The authors subdued 183 vegetarians to examination, the aim of which was to judge the state of health and nutrition of the vegetarian population. The examined group was composed of people with their age ranging from 19-60 years, out of which 102 were of younger (19-39 years) and 81 were of older age. Their average period of vegetarian food consumption was 4.2 years. One third of men and a half of women were lacto-vegetarians, the rest were lacto-ovo-vegetarians. The results were compared with 160 nonvegetarians (64 of younger and 96 of older age). The detected values of lipid parameters were evaluated as favourable for vegetarians (low values of cholesterol, triacylglycerols, atherogenic index, LDL-cholesterol, the share of HDL-cholesterol was 28-33% (vs 24-26% in nonvegetarians) with values converging to 1.4 mmol.l-1--i.e. reduced risk). Additional favourable factors in prevention of atherosclerosis include the absence of obesity in vegetarians and values of antisclerotic active substances in blood (high values of vitamin C, in comparison with nonvegetarians a significantly higher molar ratio of vitamin E/cholesterol and vitamin E/triacylglycerols--more effective protection against peroxidation of lipids). Vegetarian mode of food consumption may be favourably evaluated regarding prooxidative-antioxidative parameters which play an important role in the process of atherogenesis, and carcinogenesis. Significantly lower values of conjugated dienes in plasma of vegetarians and vice versa high values of antioxidant substances (vitamin C, vitamin E/lipid components, catalase activity) were detected. A more pronounced system of detoxication in vegetarians is important due to a possible risk of an increased intake of xenogenous substances. (Tab. 3, Ref. 27.)