[Biochemical and hematologic indicators in the blood of young vegetarians]

For the purpose of judgement of the vegetarian population state of health and nutrition 41 vegetarians were examined, namely university students in the age of 18-24 years, 36% of which were lacto-vegetarians and 64% lacto-ovo-vegetarians, 22 men and 19 women. Low values of cholesterol and triacylglycerols, content of HDL-cholesterol to 32% (close to the value 1.4 mmol per litre), low atherogenic index, low values of blood pressure and no case of obesity are favourable factors in the prevention of atherosclerosis. The only exception is represented by low values of vitamin C which neither in autumn period achieved the bottom value of the physiological range (low intake of fruit and vegetables). Saturation of organism with proteins is good (intake of full-value mixture of aminoacids in the form of plant and milk proteins), the values of glycemia were on the level of the bottom border of the physiological range. Low values of hematological parameters were detected. The erythrocyte count and levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit were on the bottom border of the physiological range; the values of serum iron in the bottom half of the physiological standard. The vegetarians consumed less fruit and vegetables (vitamin C facilities the conversion of the ferri-form into ferro-form), more cerials (linkage of iron with the phytic acid), and only scarcely the foliage vegetables. The incidence of anemias was equal with that in non-vegetarians in the age of 17-18 years (epidemiologic study of the institute). The supply of organism by vitamins B1,B2 and B6 were within the physiological standard.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)