Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord in a vegan

Misra, Harsh; Fallowfield, J. M.

doi:10.1136/pgmj.47.551.624

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…In a previous investigation of British vegan patients, Smith (1962) has emphasized the paucity of symptoms in these patients, although two of the twelve patients he studied showed evidence of sub-acute combined degeneration. Other reports of complications of dietary B12 deficiency in caucasians include a patient with mild megaloblastic anaemia (Bourne and Oleesky, 1960) and a further patient with sub-acute combined degeneration of the cord (Misra and Fallowfield, 1971). We have been unable to find any previous reports of optic atrophy complicating veganism.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Complications of dietary deficiency of Vitamin B12 in young Caucasians

Gleeson¹,

Graves²

1974

Postgraduate Medical Journal

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Complications of dietary deficiency of Vitamin B12 in young Caucasians

Gleeson¹,

Graves²

1974

Postgraduate Medical Journal

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“…Cases of dietary vitamin B12 deficiency, sometimes fatal, have been reported in both vegans and vegetarians (Misra & Fallowfield, 1971;Campbell et al 1982;Dagnelie et al 1989). White vegans and vegetarians tend to present with neurological signs of deficiency because of their high intake of folic acid which masks the megaloblastic anaemia of vitamin B12 deficiency.…”

Section: Vitamin B12 Deficiencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional implications of a meatless diet

Sanders

Reddy²

1994

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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A study commissioned by the Vegetarian Society claimed that there were as many as 3-5 million vegetarians in the UK (The Realeat Survey Office, 1990). While this may well be an overestimate, as some people who call themselves vegetarians do eat meat and fish occasionally, it is apparent that many people are now claiming to avoid 'red meat' ostensibly because they believe it to be healthier (Cathro, 1991). The trend towards vegetarianism is strongest in the younger age-groups and particularly in women. The present paper considers the nutritional adequacy of diets devoid of meat and the health of vegetarians, and questions whether avoidance of meat offers advantages to health. TYPES OF VEGETARIAN DIET A vegetarian is usually defined as someone who does not eat animal flesh (meat, poultry, fish) but whose diet includes eggs and dairy products. Usually the first stage in becoming a vegetarian is to give up consuming red meat, this is followed by the exclusion of poultry and fish. Many vegetarians aspire to being pure vegetarians or vegans who exclude all food of animal origin. Veganism is a way of life that avoids the exploitation of animals. Besides avoiding food of animal origin, vegans will not use products that have been derived from animals, such as leather and wool. Fruitarians restrict their diet to raw fruits, nuts and berries because they believe that this was the natural diet of man. Macrobiotic diets which originate from the teachings of George Ohsawa (1971) consist of relatively large amounts of brown rice, accompanied by smaller amounts of fruits, vegetables and pulses; processed foods and Solanaceae species (tomatoes, aubergines and potatoes) are avoided; meat and fish are permitted if they are hunted or wild. In practice, however, most macrobiotic diets are vegetarian and contain only small amounts, if any, of milk products. Pythagoras was one of the earlier advocates of a meatless diet in the West, and abstinence from meat (flesh) has been associated with asceticism throughout the world for thousands of years. Vegetarianism is advocated by the Hindu religion and the Seventh-Day Adventists' Church. The Rastafarian cult advocates a vegan-fruitarian diet. In the UK, many vegetarians and vegans follow their diets for ethical reasons. They claim that it is cruel to eat animals and that it is environmentally more economical to live on foods of plant origin than foods of animal origin. Vegetarianism in the UK has a long history of association with radical and often altruistic causes ranging from teetotalism and food reform in the 19th century, to feminism, nuclear disarmament, environmental issues and animal rights in the 20th century. Many radical figures such as George Bernard Shaw and Beatrice Webb have openly promoted vegetarianism. In more recent times, pop idols such as Madonna have espoused the vegetarian cause. It is, perhaps, not surprising that vegetarianism appeals to the younger age-groups. In the Netherlands and the USA, many of the 'new vegetarians' are followers of the

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Haematological studies on vegans

1978

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I . The concentrations of vitamin Bls and folate in the serum and folate in the erythrocytes were determined and full blood counts made on a series of Caucasian vegans and omnivore controls.2 . The blood counts and films were normal in all the vegans and no subject had a haemoglobin concentration below the lower limit of normality.3. Although within the normal range, male but not female vegans had lower values for erythrocyte counts and higher values for mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin than their controls regardless of whether they were taking vitamin B,, supplements or not. 4.The mean serum vitamin B1, concentration was lower in the vegans not taking vitamin B,, supplements and in those using foods supplemented with the vitamin than in the controls, but in no subject was it below 80 ng/l.5. The serum folate concentrations were higher in the vegans than in their controls. The mean value for erythrocyte folate tended to be greater in the vegans not taking vitamin B12 supplements. No subject had an erythrocyte folate concentration of less than IOO pg/l. 6. It is concluded that megaloblastic anaemia is very rare in Caucasian vegans and that a diet consisting entirely of plant foods is generally adequate to promote normal blood formation providing it is composed of a mixture of unrefined cereals, pulses, nuts, fruit and vegetables and is supplemented with vitamin BIE.

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Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord in a vegan

Cited by 5 publications

References 10 publications

Complications of dietary deficiency of Vitamin B12 in young Caucasians

Complications of dietary deficiency of Vitamin B12 in young Caucasians

Nutritional implications of a meatless diet

Haematological studies on vegans

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