Association of micronutrient status with subclinical health complaints in lactovegetarian adults

Background: Micronutrient malnutrition has many adverse effects on human health, not all of which may beclinically evident.Objective: To explore linkages between subclinical health complaints and micronutrient status inlactovegetarian Indian adults.Design: Health was assessed in 502 lactovegetarian adults (275 men, 227 women, aged 30.6±9 years) using astructured questionnaire for existing complaints with severity of symptoms on a four-point scale andmorbidity over the preceding month. Subjects were categorized as having no complaints (NC), or complaintsof mild (MI) or moderate (MD) degree, using cluster analysis. Diet was recorded by a semi-quantitative foodfrequency questionnaire and nutrient intakes were computed using standard databases. Levels ofhaemoglobin, vitamin C, retinol, ceruloplasmin, riboflavin (EGRAC), folic acid, vitamin B₁₂ and erythrocytemembrane zinc (RBCMZn) in blood were estimated.Results: Health complaints of a mild and moderate degree were observed in 30.5% and 24.7% of the subjects,respectively. Average dietary intakes of β-carotene, riboflavin, iron and zinc were observed to be only abouthalf of the recommended dietary intakes. There was a decreasing trend in micronutrient intakes from NC toMD. Intakes of iron, zinc, niacin and thiamin of men from the MI group tended to be lower than in the NCgroup (p<0.1). . Men from the MD group had significantly lower intakes of calcium, zinc and riboflavin thanthose from the NC group (p<0.05). . The intakes of these nutrients in women from NC, MI and MD were notsignificantly different. Multinomial logistic regression of health status revealed that plasma vitamin C andRBCMZn were negatively associated with MD and RBCMZn with MI.Conclusions: The study indicates a need to increase micronutrient intakes of vegetarian populations, especiallyregarding vitamin C and zinc for maintenance of health.