Clipping Board » Disease & Prevention ─ Understanding diseases, prevention is better than cure.
【Ta Kung Pao News 2006-5-7】
Approximately 350,000 people in Hong Kong are long-term vegetarians. Vegetarianism has always been regarded as a healthy dietary practice. However, research from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has found that long-term adherence to a "strict vegetarian" diet, which excludes even milk and eggs, can lead to a deficiency in vitamin B12. This deficiency can result in more severe vascular hardening and an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The study recommends that those who follow a strict vegetarian diet take daily vitamin B12 supplements to address this deficiency. However, the Hong Kong Vegetarian Society responded by stating that long-term vegetarianism is entirely beneficial and not harmful. They pointed out that plants like arrowhead contain large amounts of B12, and consuming just one can provide enough for ten years. They disagree with the notion that long-term vegetarianism increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Professor Hu Jinsheng, Chair Professor of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at CUHK's Faculty of Medicine, stated yesterday that B12 is a nutrient that promotes metabolism. A deficiency in B12 can lead to elevated levels of homocysteine in the body, which damages the inner lining of blood vessels and thickens the outer layer, causing vascular hardening. The normal level of homocysteine in the general population is below 12 micromoles. The study showed that the average homocysteine level among Hong Kong vegetarians is 12, with some reaching as high as 45.
Egg yolks and milk contain B12.
He mentioned that 5% of Hong Kong's population follows a long-term vegetarian diet for religious, health, or weight-loss reasons. Some of these individuals eat very lightly, avoiding eggs and milk, making fermented bean curd their only source of B12. However, fermented bean curd is very salty and is not an ideal source of B12. Onions also contain B12, but some people classify them as miscellaneous and not strictly vegetarian. He suggested that vegetarians should consume eggs and milk to obtain B12. If they avoid these for religious or other reasons, they should take a daily 0.5 mg vitamin B12 supplement to prevent heart disease and stroke.
B12 is most commonly found in pork liver, meat, and eggs. Egg yolks contain a small amount of B12. To obtain sufficient B12 from eggs alone, one would need to consume two egg yolks daily. Therefore, he believes that elderly vegetarians are better off taking oral vitamin B12 supplements, as consuming too many eggs can cause indigestion, and undercooked eggs may harbor bacteria, not to mention the issue of high cholesterol.
Master Hsing Yun suffers from cardiovascular disease.
He noted that many senior monks suffer from cardiovascular diseases. "Master Hsing Yun also has cardiovascular disease. Of course, he is extremely busy with numerous responsibilities, but a lack of vitamin B12 is certainly one of the contributing factors."
An earlier CUHK study of 100 individuals who had been vegetarians for over ten years, including monks and nuns, found that 70% followed a strict vegetarian diet, avoiding eggs, milk, and dairy products. The study revealed that 40% of the participants had thicker carotid artery intima-media compared to those on a normal diet, and their blood pressure was also higher.
He added that between 1998 and 2002, researchers studied over 100 individuals, including long-term vegetarians in Hong Kong and people in Shanxi who had long-term deficiencies in fresh vegetables and meat. They found that while their blood cholesterol levels were low, the incidence of vascular hardening was higher compared to non-vegetarians or Chinese people living in other regions.
In a follow-up study from 2002 to 2003, the research team recruited 50 long-term vegetarians for a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial of vitamin B12 (0.5 mg daily) or placebo capsules for one year. The results showed that the group taking vitamin B12 experienced a 16% improvement in vascular endothelial function and a 6% improvement in intima-media thickness compared to the placebo group.
Source: http://www. takungpao. com/ news/ 06/ 05/ 07/ MW- 562322. htm
350,000 Vegetarians at Higher Risk of Coronary Heart Disease
Approximately 350,000 people in Hong Kong are long-term vegetarians. Vegetarianism has always been regarded as a healthy dietary practice. However, research from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has found that long-term adherence to a "strict vegetarian" diet, which excludes even milk and eggs, can lead to a deficiency in vitamin B12. This deficiency can result in more severe vascular hardening and an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The study recommends that those who follow a strict vegetarian diet take daily vitamin B12 supplements to address this deficiency. However, the Hong Kong Vegetarian Society responded by stating that long-term vegetarianism is entirely beneficial and not harmful. They pointed out that plants like arrowhead contain large amounts of B12, and consuming just one can provide enough for ten years. They disagree with the notion that long-term vegetarianism increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Professor Hu Jinsheng, Chair Professor of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at CUHK's Faculty of Medicine, stated yesterday that B12 is a nutrient that promotes metabolism. A deficiency in B12 can lead to elevated levels of homocysteine in the body, which damages the inner lining of blood vessels and thickens the outer layer, causing vascular hardening. The normal level of homocysteine in the general population is below 12 micromoles. The study showed that the average homocysteine level among Hong Kong vegetarians is 12, with some reaching as high as 45.
Egg yolks and milk contain B12.
He mentioned that 5% of Hong Kong's population follows a long-term vegetarian diet for religious, health, or weight-loss reasons. Some of these individuals eat very lightly, avoiding eggs and milk, making fermented bean curd their only source of B12. However, fermented bean curd is very salty and is not an ideal source of B12. Onions also contain B12, but some people classify them as miscellaneous and not strictly vegetarian. He suggested that vegetarians should consume eggs and milk to obtain B12. If they avoid these for religious or other reasons, they should take a daily 0.5 mg vitamin B12 supplement to prevent heart disease and stroke.
B12 is most commonly found in pork liver, meat, and eggs. Egg yolks contain a small amount of B12. To obtain sufficient B12 from eggs alone, one would need to consume two egg yolks daily. Therefore, he believes that elderly vegetarians are better off taking oral vitamin B12 supplements, as consuming too many eggs can cause indigestion, and undercooked eggs may harbor bacteria, not to mention the issue of high cholesterol.
Master Hsing Yun suffers from cardiovascular disease.
He noted that many senior monks suffer from cardiovascular diseases. "Master Hsing Yun also has cardiovascular disease. Of course, he is extremely busy with numerous responsibilities, but a lack of vitamin B12 is certainly one of the contributing factors."
An earlier CUHK study of 100 individuals who had been vegetarians for over ten years, including monks and nuns, found that 70% followed a strict vegetarian diet, avoiding eggs, milk, and dairy products. The study revealed that 40% of the participants had thicker carotid artery intima-media compared to those on a normal diet, and their blood pressure was also higher.
He added that between 1998 and 2002, researchers studied over 100 individuals, including long-term vegetarians in Hong Kong and people in Shanxi who had long-term deficiencies in fresh vegetables and meat. They found that while their blood cholesterol levels were low, the incidence of vascular hardening was higher compared to non-vegetarians or Chinese people living in other regions.
In a follow-up study from 2002 to 2003, the research team recruited 50 long-term vegetarians for a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial of vitamin B12 (0.5 mg daily) or placebo capsules for one year. The results showed that the group taking vitamin B12 experienced a 16% improvement in vascular endothelial function and a 6% improvement in intima-media thickness compared to the placebo group.
Source: http://www. takungpao. com/ news/ 06/ 05/ 07/ MW- 562322. htm