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Abstract
In the first study, ten lacto-ovo-vegetarians and thirty omnivore adult human subjects were fed laboratory controlled lacto-vegetarian, pure vegetarian or omnivore diets supplemented with red or white wheat bran. In all subjects, red wheat bran was found to have a detrimental effect on copper absorption. Copper balances were more positive for lacto-ovo-vegetarians fed lacto-vegetarian diets than for omnivores fed the same diet. Apparent lead absorption was higher among omnivores fed the pure vegetarian basal diet than among omnivores fed omnivore or lacto-vegetarian diets. This was attributed to be a result of the low calcium intakes.
In Study II, two levels of a commercial starch blocker (50% starch inhibition and 100% starch inhibition) were fed to thirty adult female rats. There was no significant effect on the body weights or feed intakes of the rats. However, fecal copper and fecal zinc excretion increased significantly when the test diets were administered, suggesting that starch blockers may contain constituents that affect mineral utilization.
In Study III, human breast milk from four practicing lacto-ovo-vegetarian and five omnivore lactating women at approximately four months postpartum was analyzed for copper, zinc and lead concentrations. Copper concentrations were higher in milk samples from the lacto-ovo-vegetarians. The higher zinc concentrations in milk samples from the omnivores were attributed to the fact that zinc is better utilized from animal than from plant products. The lead concentrations were highest in the milk samples from the omnivores.
