Iron Status of Vegetarians

Authors

Winston J. Craig, Andrews UniversityFollow

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-1994

Abstract

An appropriately planned well-balanced vegetarian diet is compatible with an adequate iron status. Although the iron stores of vegetarians may be reduced, the incidence of iron-deficiency anemia in vegetarians is not significantly different from that in omnivores. Restrictive vegetarian diets (eg, macrobiotic) are associated with more widespread iron-deficiency anemia. Western vegetarians who consume a variety of foods have a better iron status than do those in developing countries who consume a limited diet based on unleavened, unrefined cereals. Whereas phytates, polyphenolics, and other plant constituents found in vegetarian diets inhibit nonheme-iron absorption, vitamin C, citric acid, and other organic acids facilitate nonheme-iron absorption.

Journal Title

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Volume

59

Issue

5 SUPPL.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/59.5.1233S

First Department

Population Health, Nutrition & Wellness

Recommended Citation

Craig, Winston J., "Iron Status of Vegetarians" (1994). Faculty Publications. 2481.
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/pubs/2481