Daily milk intake improves vitamin B-12 status in young vegetarian Indians: an intervention trial

Abstract

BackgroundAsymptomatic Indian lacto vegetarians, who make up more than half of the Indian population in different geographic regions, have distinctly low vitamin B-12 concentrations than non- vegetarians. Vegetarians consume milk but it seems that the amount is not enough to improve vitamin B-12 status or vitamin B-12 concentration in milk itself may be low. The aim of this study was to determine if daily milk consumption can improve vitamin B-12 status.MethodsFifteen male and 36 female, young healthy post-graduate volunteers participated. Blood from ten participants (4 males and 6 females) was collected (day-1). They continued their regular diet for next fourteen days and on day-15, blood of all 51 participants was collected, plasma vitamin B-12 concentration was measured and were divided into two groups; Normal (vitamin B-12 >148 pmol/L, n = 22) and Vitamin B-12 deficient (<148 pmol/L, n = 29), the remaining plasma was stored. All participants consumed 600 ml. of non-enriched buffalo milk (200 × 3) during the day along with their usual diet. Next day blood was collected for plasma holotranscobalamin II measurement. Subjects from deficient group continued to drink 400 ml of milk daily for next 14 days and blood was collected on day-30. Plasma holotranscoabalamin II (day-1, 15, 16, 30), vitamin B-12, folate, total homocysteine, creatinine and hematoloical parameters (day-1, 15, 30), and milk vitamin B-12 concentrations (day-15, 16, 30) were measured.ResultsFifty seven per cent of the participants were vitamin B-12 deficient and 65% were hyperhomocysteinemic. No significant difference in biomarkers was observed when there was no intervention. Plasma holotranscobalamin II concentration increased from 19.6 to 22.27 pmol/L (p < 0.0001) 24 hrs after milk load in the whole group. Plasma vitamin B-12 increased from 92.5 to 122 pmol/L and tHcy concentrations decreased from 31.9 to 24.9 μ mol/L (p < 0.0001 for both) 14 days after regular milk intake in vitamin B-12 deficient subjects.ConclusionsRegular intake of milk improved vitamin B-12 status of vitamin B-12 deficient vegetarians indicating a potential dietary strategy to improve the vitamin status.

The Association between Eating Habits and Body Mass Index among Nursing Students

“…A study from China, found about one fourth of participants only consumed vegetables and fruits, [57]. However, another study from Malaysia noted that only the minority of university students devoted vegetables more than three times weekly [26].This finding in agreement with [51] and [64], who concluded that the acceptance of unhealthy eating habits along with college students, mainly with regard to the reduced utilization of fruit and vegetables.…”

Vitamin B12 among Vegetarians: Status, Assessment and Supplementation

“…The deficiency of Cbl is defined by the serum concentrations <110 pmol/L [76,77], <127 pmol/L [78], <148 pmol/L [79,80], <150 pmol/L [81,82,83], <156 pmol/L [84,85], <220 pmol/L [86], <250 pmol/L [8]. The Institute of Medicine defined 120–180 pmol/L as a depletion range [25].…”

“…The increased plasma concentration of HCY and urinary or serum MMA can provide more detailed information on the deficiency condition. As for serum Cbl, the criteria for an excess of HCY are heterogeneous: >15 μmol/L [78,80,81,83,85,92], >12 μmol/L [18,76,77,84,86,91,93,94], >10 μmol/L [8]. In addition, there are different criteria of deficiency for serum MMA cutoffs ranging from >271 nmol/L to >376 nmol/L, with the former being most prevalent [18,81,82,84,85,93,94,95].…”

Preventing vitamin B12 deficiency in South Asian women of childbearing age: a randomised controlled trial comparing an oral vitamin B12 supplement with B12 dietary advice

“…A study in Pune, India investigated supplementation with buffalo milk. 45 There was an increase in both serum B12 and holoTC concentrations and a decrease in plasma homocysteine concentrations in response to supplementation with 400 ml of buffalo milk (B12 content 2.5-3.8 μg/l) every day for 14 days for the 29 lactovegetarian participants with a serum B12 o 148 pmol/l. 45 Sustainability of intake for longer periods was not investigated, and buffalo milk has a higher B12 content than that recorded for cow's milk, but these findings are consistent with other published studies that report a high bioavailability of B12 from dairy products.…”