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Fernandes S, Oliveira L, Pereira A, Costa MDC, Raposo A, Saraiva A, Magalhães B. Exploring Vitamin B12 Supplementation in the Vegan Population: A Scoping Review of the Evidence. Nutrients 2024; 16:1442. [PMID: 38794680 PMCID: PMC11124153 DOI: 10.3390/nu16101442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
With a significant portion of the population adopting veganism and conflicting views among nutrition professionals regarding the necessity of vitamin B12 supplementation, this review aims to explore existing studies evaluating interventions through food supplementation. It focuses on the impact of vitamin B12 deficiency across different demographics. The present study seeks to understand how research has addressed the relationship between the rise in veganism and vitamin B12 deficiency over the past decade. A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA flow diagram. Studies from 2010 to 2023 were identified using Boolean operators and key terms in electronic databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EBSCO (Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts, and Academic Search Complete). Out of 217 articles identified, 70 studies were included. The topical analysis categorized the studies into three groups: those associating vitamin B12 deficiency with diseases (n = 14), those analyzing the dietary habits of vegetarian individuals (vegan or not) without a specific focus on vitamin B12 (n = 49), and those addressing food guides and nutrition institution positions (n = 7). The authors concluded that vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent among vegans due to limited consumption of animal products. For vegetarians, supplementation is an efficient means of treating and preventing deficiency; a daily dose of 50 to 100 micrograms is advised. There are still significant gaps in the research, nevertheless, such as the absence of randomized controlled trials evaluating various forms or dosages of vitamin B12 among vegetarians and the requirement for more information and awareness of the vitamin's significance in vegan diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sávio Fernandes
- CBIOS (Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (S.F.); (L.O.)
| | - Leandro Oliveira
- CBIOS (Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (S.F.); (L.O.)
- Coimbra Health School, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Rua 5 de Outubro—S. Martinho do Bispo, Apartado 7006, 3046-854 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Alda Pereira
- Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal;
- University Clinic of General and Family Medicine, Ecogenetics and Human Health Unity, Institute for Environmental Health, Instituto de Saúde Ambiental (ISAMB), 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria do Céu Costa
- CBIOS (Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (S.F.); (L.O.)
- Núcleo de Investigação em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde (NICiTeS), Polytechnic Institute of Lusophony, ERISA—Escola Superior de Saúde Ribeiro Sanches, 1900-693 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - António Raposo
- CBIOS (Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (S.F.); (L.O.)
| | - Ariana Saraiva
- Department of Animal Pathology and Production, Bromatology and Food Technology, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontaña s/n, 35413 Arucas, Spain;
| | - Bruno Magalhães
- School of Health, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal;
- RISE—Health Research Network, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Centre of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (CACTMAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
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Jensen CF. Vitamin B12 levels in children and adolescents on plant-based diets: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Rev 2023; 81:951-966. [PMID: 36413044 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuac096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT The popularity of plant-based diets, characterized by a partial or complete exclusion of animal products, has increased significantly over the last 10 years. The exclusion of animal products removes the most common sources of vitamin B12, which can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency and result in irreversible damage, such as growth stunting. OBJECTIVE This aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to qualitatively evaluate all studies on this subject and to quantify the potential difference in vitamin B12 levels in healthy children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years. DATA SOURCES PubMed and Embase databases were searched for relevant studies investigating vitamin B12 levels in healthy children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years on plant-based diets. DATA EXTRACTION Studies were assessed qualitatively with the AXIS tool and quantitatively with Stata 16.0 software. DATA ANALYSIS Overall, children and adolescents on plant-based diets had a significantly lower vitamin B12 level than omnivorous children and adolescents (-97 pmol/L; 95%CI, -187 to -7; I2 = 98.5%), a difference that remained statistically significant after adjusting for methodological confounders. After subgroup analyses, this effect was not statistically significant for children and adolescents on vegetarian diets but remained significant in children and adolescents on vegan or macrobiotic diets. Moreover, total vitamin B12 intake nullified the mean difference in vitamin B12 levels. CONCLUSION Despite high heterogeneity across studies, these results indicate that children and adolescents on plant-based diets, especially those on vegan and macrobiotic diets, may be at risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher F Jensen
- master's student with the Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark
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How Diet and Physical Activity Modulate Gut Microbiota: Evidence, and Perspectives. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14122456. [PMID: 35745186 PMCID: PMC9227967 DOI: 10.3390/nu14122456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota plays a significant role in the maintenance of physiological homeostasis, contributing to human health. Nevertheless, some factors (sex, age, lifestyle, physical activity, drug-based therapies, diet, etc.) affect its composition and functionality, linked to pathologies and immunological diseases. Concerning diet, it interacts with microorganisms, leading to beneficial or detrimental outcomes for the health of host. On the other hand, physical activity is known to be useful for preventing and, sometimes, treating several diseases of cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, respiratory, and muscular systems. This paper focuses on diet and physical activity presenting the current knowledge about how different diets (Western, ketogenic, vegan, gluten free, Mediterranean) as well as different types of exercise (intensive, endurance, aerobic) could shape gut microbiota.
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Altomare A, Di Rosa C, Imperia E, Emerenziani S, Cicala M, Guarino MPL. Diarrhea Predominant-Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-D): Effects of Different Nutritional Patterns on Intestinal Dysbiosis and Symptoms. Nutrients 2021; 13:1506. [PMID: 33946961 PMCID: PMC8146452 DOI: 10.3390/nu13051506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain associated with defecation or a change in bowel habits. Gut microbiota, which acts as a real organ with well-defined functions, is in a mutualistic relationship with the host, harvesting additional energy and nutrients from the diet and protecting the host from pathogens; specific alterations in its composition seem to play a crucial role in IBS pathophysiology. It is well known that diet can significantly modulate the intestinal microbiota profile but it is less known how different nutritional approach effective in IBS patients, such as the low-FODMAP diet, could be responsible of intestinal microbiota changes, thus influencing the presence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. The aim of this review was to explore the effects of different nutritional protocols (e.g., traditional nutritional advice, low-FODMAP diet, gluten-free diet, etc.) on IBS-D symptoms and on intestinal microbiota variations in both IBS-D patients and healthy subjects. To date, an ideal nutritional protocol does not exist for IBS-D patients but it seems crucial to consider the effect of the different nutritional approaches on the intestinal microbiota composition to better define an efficient strategy to manage this functional disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Altomare
- Gastroenterology Unit, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; (A.A.); (S.E.); (M.C.); (M.P.L.G.)
- Unit of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy;
| | - Claudia Di Rosa
- Unit of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy;
| | - Elena Imperia
- Unit of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy;
| | - Sara Emerenziani
- Gastroenterology Unit, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; (A.A.); (S.E.); (M.C.); (M.P.L.G.)
| | - Michele Cicala
- Gastroenterology Unit, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; (A.A.); (S.E.); (M.C.); (M.P.L.G.)
| | - Michele Pier Luca Guarino
- Gastroenterology Unit, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; (A.A.); (S.E.); (M.C.); (M.P.L.G.)
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Protudjer JLP, Mikkelsen A. Veganism and paediatric food allergy: two increasingly prevalent dietary issues that are challenging when co-occurring. BMC Pediatr 2020; 20:341. [PMID: 32650748 PMCID: PMC7350184 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-020-02236-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vegan diets - defined as the exclusion of all foods of animal origin from the diet- are becoming popular. In recent years, the prevalence of food allergy has also increased, and disproportionately affects children. When vegan diets and food allergy co-occur, this combination can be challenging and pose risks of nutritional deficiencies, particularly during childhood. In this paper, we aim to summarise the major concerns regarding vegan diets and food allergy, review the literature on this topic, and provide some suggestions for healthcare providers, particularly dietitians and nutritionists, who work with food allergic, vegan patients and their family. When working with this patient population, a regular and complete medical nutrition history, including screening for any possible nutritional deficiencies, is warranted. Likewise, the routine tracking of serum markers (especially iodine, iron, zinc, calcium, Vitamins B12, D, B2, and A, selected n-3 fatty acids and protein, which are more abundant in animal vs. plant foods) and symptoms of co-morbid diseases, including asthma, is important, as comorbid diseases may increase energy and nutrient requirements. For infants and children, anthropometry ought to be tracked longitudinally at regular intervals to identify any deviations from the child's previous growth pattern, and to accommodate any increased requirements for growth and development. Correct diagnoses, education and allergy management must be disseminated to the family in a clear and appropriate manner. Children with allergy may have increased nutritional needs due to comorbidity. This is complicated by coincident food allergy and vegan diet as both impose diet restrictions (limiting sources of important nutrients, need for dietary variety and/or increased consumption due to reduced bioavaliability).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L P Protudjer
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
- George and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation, Winnipeg, Canada.
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
- Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
- Centre for Allergy Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Andrea Mikkelsen
- Paediatric Primary Health Care Clinics of Västra Götaland, Västra Götaland, Sweden
- Research and Development Primary Health Care, Gothenburg and Södra Bohuslän, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden
- Institute of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Sakkas H, Bozidis P, Touzios C, Kolios D, Athanasiou G, Athanasopoulou E, Gerou I, Gartzonika C. Nutritional Status and the Influence of the Vegan Diet on the Gut Microbiota and Human Health. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2020; 56:E88. [PMID: 32098430 PMCID: PMC7073751 DOI: 10.3390/medicina56020088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The human gut microbiota is considered a well-known complex ecosystem composed of distinct microbial populations, playing a significant role in most aspects of human health and wellness. Several factors such as infant transitions, dietary habits, age, consumption of probiotics and prebiotics, use of antibiotics, intestinal comorbidities, and even metabolic diseases may continously alter microbiota diversity and function. The study of vegan diet-microbiota interactions is a rapidly evolving field, since plenty of research has been focused on the potential effects of plant-based dietary patterns on the human gut microbiota. It has been reported that well-planned vegan diets and their associated components affect both the bacterial composition and metabolic pathways of gut microbiota. Certain benefits associated with medical disorders but also limitations (including nutritional deficiencies) have been documented. Although the vegan diet may be inadequate in calorific value, it is rich in dietary fiber, polyphenols, and antioxidant vitamins. The aim of the present study was to provide an update of the existing knowledge on nutritional status of vegan diets and the influence of their food components on the human gut microbiota and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hercules Sakkas
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (P.B.); (C.G.)
| | - Petros Bozidis
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (P.B.); (C.G.)
| | - Christos Touzios
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.T.); (D.K.); (G.A.); (E.A.); (I.G.)
| | - Damianos Kolios
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.T.); (D.K.); (G.A.); (E.A.); (I.G.)
| | - Georgia Athanasiou
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.T.); (D.K.); (G.A.); (E.A.); (I.G.)
| | - Eirini Athanasopoulou
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.T.); (D.K.); (G.A.); (E.A.); (I.G.)
| | - Ioanna Gerou
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.T.); (D.K.); (G.A.); (E.A.); (I.G.)
| | - Constantina Gartzonika
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (P.B.); (C.G.)
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Chandra-Hioe MV, Xu H, Arcot J. The efficiency of ultrasonic-assisted extraction of cyanocobalamin is greater than heat extraction. Heliyon 2019; 6:e03059. [PMID: 31909249 PMCID: PMC6939108 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e03059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyanocobalamin, like other water-soluble vitamins, is susceptible to degradation due to exposure to heat, UV, oxygen and pH. Built on our previous finding, this study aimed to assess the extraction efficiency of cyanocobalamin from dietary supplements. Particularly, cyanocobalamin extraction in a 100 °C water bath was compared with ultrasonic-assisted extraction, with and without the addition of 1 mg/L sorbitol, xylitol and erythritol. Ground defatted samples of supplement tablets were initially treated for 15 min, centrifuged and filtered before quantitative HPLC analysis. Addition of sorbitol and xylitol significantly minimised the thermal degradation during extraction in a 100 °C water bath, as shown in measured cyanocobalamin (~145 μg/tablet) that was higher than the control (100 μg/tablet, p < 0.05). Despite the addition of sugar alcohols, mean cyanocobalamin in ultrasonic extracted samples (~170 μg/tablet) was not significantly different from those without (p > 0.05). Overall, mean cyanocobalamin in sonicated samples was higher than heat-extracted counterparts, suggesting that extraction in a 100 °C water bath was likely to cause thermal degradation. It was possible that ultrasonic-assisted extraction had no effect on cyanocobalamin stability and would lead to a higher extraction efficiency. Therefore, 15 min extraction in an ultrasonic bath can be suggested to be adequate to release cyanocobalamin before its quantitative determination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Han Xu
- Food and Health Cluster, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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