Zinc intake and status in Australian vegetarians

Vegetarians have a lower incidence of many chronic diseases than omnivores. However, vegetarian diets could potentially result in lower intakes of som e minerals, particularly Zn. In a cross-sectional study, dietary Zn intake was measured using 12 d weighed records in ninety-nine vegetarians (ten veg ans) aged 18-50 years and forty-nine age- and sex-matched omnivores. In men , the mean daily Zn intake and Zn density values were similar in omnivores, ovolacto-vegetarians and vegans, but in women they were significantly lowe r in vegetarians (mean intake 6.8 mg v. 8.4 mg in omnivores) and few achiev ed the recommended intake. Significantly more vegetarian than omnivorous wo men had a daily Zn intake <6 mg (44 % v. 13 %). Mean serum Zn concentration s were similar in female omnivores and vegetarians, despite the differences in intake. However, omnivorous men had a lower mean serum Zn concentration (0.85 mu g/ml v. 0.95 mu g/ml) and more subjects had levels below the refe rence range of 0.72-1.44 mu g/ml than ovolactovegetarians (P < 0.01). Overa ll more women than men had low Zn concentrations; and these women generally had intakes below 6 mg/d. There was a significant correlation between seru m Zn concentration and dietary Zn density in vegetarians, especially female s (P < 0.001), but not in omnivores. Ovolactovegetarians did not have a sig nificantly greater risk of low Zn status than omnivores.