The effect of diet on plasma homocysteine concentrations in healthy male subjects

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of habitual omnivorous and vegetarian diets on folate and vitamin B12 status and the subsequent effect on homocysteine concentration. Design: Cross-sectional comparison of free-living habitual meat-eaters and habitual vegetarians. Setting: The study was conducted at RMIT University, Melbourne. Subjects: One hundred and thirty-nine healthy male subjects (vegans n = 18, ovolacto vegetarians n = 43, moderate meat-eaters n = 60 and high meat-eaters n = 18) aged 20-55 y who were recruited in Melbourne. Outcome measures: Fasting plasma or serum from each subject was analysed for folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine concentration. A semi-quantitative Food Frequenc..