Micronutrient intakes and the contribution of self- selected dietary supplements were investigated in 26 vegans, comprising 17 non-supplement users (NSU) and nine supplement users (SU), consum ing their habitual diet. Micronutrient intakes were estimated using a four-day weighed record and the contribution of self-selected dietary supplements was assessed according to the manufacturers' decla rations on the packaging. Mean daily intakes from food sources were similar in NSU and SU. Dietary supplements significantly increased intakes of riboflavin (p<0.05), niacin (p<0.05), folate (p<0.01), vitamin A (p<0.05) and vitamin D (p<0.05). The mean daily contribution of dietary supplements ranged from 7-1640% of the refer ence nutrient intake (RNI). Intakes of vitamin B12 and selenium (Se) were below the appropriate lower reference nutrient intake (LRNI) in 80% and 65% of NSU respectively. After supplements, 33% of SU remained below the LRNI for vitamin B12 and 33% below the LRNI for Se. Some vegans who took supplements were not taking certain micronu trients in amounts sufficient to meet the RNIs but were taking a mix of micronutrients, some of which they needed and others which they did not need. Some vegans who did not take supplements had a potential need for the addition of supple ments to their diets. Advice on the appropriate usage of dietary supplements for those on a vegan diet is needed.
Abdulla M., Andersson I., Asp N., Berthelsen K., Birkhed D., Dencker I., Johansson C., Jägerstad M., Kolar K., Nair B.N., Nilsson-Ehle P., Norden A., Rassner S., Akesson B. and Ockerman P. (1981). Nutrient intake and health status of vegans. Chemical analyses of diets using the duplicate portion sampling techniqueAm J Clin Nutr; 34, 2464-2477
2.
Alexander D., Ball M.J. and Mann J. (1994). Nutrient intake and haematological status of vegetarians and age-sex matched omnivores. Eur J Clin Nutr, 48, 538-546
3.
Barasi M. and Robinson F. (1999). A study of the use of nutritional supplements be a group of vegetarians in South Wales. Am J Clin Nutr; 70 (suppl), 629S
4.
Bingham S.A. (1987). The dietary assessment of individuals; methods, accuracy, new techniques and recommendations. Nutr Abstr Rev , 57, 705-742
5.
Bingham S.A., Cassidy A., Cole T.J., Welch A., Runswick S.A., Black A.E., Thurnham D., Bates C., Khaw K.T., Key T J A and Day N.E. (1995). Validation of weighed records and other methods of dietary assessment using the 24 h urine nitrogen technique and other biological markers. Br j Nutr, 73, 531-550
6.
British Dietetic Association (1999). Vitamin and mineral supplementation. J Hum Nutr Diet ; 12, 171-178
7.
Butcher M.A., Judd P.A., Caygill C., Peach S. and Diplock A.T. (1995). Current selenium content of foods and an estimation of average intake in the United Kingdom. Proc Nutr Soc; 54, 131A
8.
Carlson E., Kipps M., Lockie A. and Thomson J. (1985). A comparative evaluation of vegan, vegetarian and omnivore diets. J Plant Foods;6, 89-100
9.
Department Of Health (1991). Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. Report on Health and Social Subjects no.41. London: HMSO
10.
Dorant E., Van Den Brandt P.A., Gold-Bohm R.A., Hermus R J J and Sturmans F. (1994). Agreement between interview data and a self-administered questionnaire on dietary supplement use. Eur J Clin Nutr, 48, 180-188
11.
Doyle W., Crawley H., Robert H. and Bates C.J. (1999). Iron deficiency in older people : interactions between food and nutrient intakes with biochemical measures of iron; further analysis of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey of people aged 65 years and over. Eur J Clin Nutr, 53, 552-559
12.
Draper A., Lewis J., Malhotra N. and Wheeler E. (1993). The energy and nutrient intakes of different types of vegetarian: a case for supplements? Br J Nutr, 69, 3-19
13.
Fairweather-Tait S.J., Piper Z., Hurren C.A. and Fox T.E. (1988). Studies on the consumption of 'fibre-filler' for twelve weeks in humans: effects on iron status and plasma zinc. J Hum Nutr Diet, 1, 337-346
14.
Gay C. ( 2000). Estimation of population distributions of habitual nutrient intake based on a short-run weighed food diary. Br J Nutr , 83, 287-293
15.
Goldberg G.R., Black A.E., Jebb S.A., Cole T.J., Murgatroyd P.R., Coward W.A. and Prentice A.M. (1991). Critical evaluation of energy intake data using fundamental principles of energy physiology: 1. Derivation of cutoff limits to identify under-reporting. Eur J Clin Nutr, 45, 569-581
16.
Gregory J., Foster K., Tyler H. and Wiseman M. (1990). The Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults. London: HMSO
17.
Hallberg L. (1998). Does calcium interfere with iron absorption? Am J Clin Nutr, 68, 3-4
18.
Hardinge M.G. and Stare F.J. (1954). Nutritional studies of vegetarians. 1. Nutritional, physical, and laboratory studiesAm J Clin Nutr, 2, 73-82
19.
Harland B.F. and Morris E.R. (1985). Fibre and mineral absorption. In: Dietary Fibre Perspectives Reviews and Bibliography, 72-82. (A Leeds). London: John Libbey
20.
Ink S.L. (1988). Fiber-mineral and fiber-vitamin interactions. In: Nutrient Interactions, 253-264. (CE Bodwell and JW Erdman Jr). New York : Marcel Dekker
21.
Janelle K.C. and Barr S.I. (1995). Nutrient intakes and eating behavior scores of vegetarian and nonvegetarian women. J Am Diet Assoc, 95, 180-186, 189
22.
Judd P.A., Long A., Butcher M., Caygill C.P. and Diplock A.T. (1997). Vegetarians and vegans may be most at risk from low selenium intakes. BMJ; 314, 1834
23.
Kirk S F L, Cade J.E., Barrett J.H. and Conner M. (1999). Diet and lifestyle characteristics associated with dietary supplement use in women. Public Health Nutr, 2, 69-73
24.
Kurtha A.N. and Ellis F.R. (1970). The nutritional, clinical and economic aspects of vegan diets. Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 2, 13-22
25.
Lee S.M., Lewis J., Buss D.H., Holcombe G.D. and Lawrance P.R. (1994). Iodine in British foods and diets. Br J Nutr, 72, 435-446
26.
Lightowler H.J. and Davies G.J. (1996). Sources of iodine in the vegan diet. Proc Nutr Soc; 55, 33A
27.
Lightowler H.J. and Davies G.J. (1998). Iodine intake and iodine deficiency in vegans as assessed by the duplicate-portion technique and urinary iodine excretion . Br J Nutr, 80, 529-535
28.
Macphail P. (1998). Iron. In: Essentials of Human Nutrition , 137-149. (J Mann and S Truswell ). New York: Oxford University Press
Rana S.K. and Sanders T A B (1986). Taurine concentrations in the diet, plasma, urine and breast milk of vegans compared with omnivores . Br J Nutr, 56, 17-27
31.
Sanders T A B and Key T J A (1987). Blood pressure, plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentrations in vegans and omnivore controls. Hum Nutr: Appl Nutr, 41A, 204-211
32.
Schofield W.N., Schofield C. and James W P T (1985). Basal metabolic rate- review and prediction, together with an annotated bibliography of source material. Hum Nutr: Clin Nutr, 39C (suppl 1), 1-96
33.
The Realeat Survey (1997). The Realeat Survey 1984-1997. Changing attitudes to meat consumption. Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire: The Realeat Survey Office
34.
Truswell S. and Milne R. (1998). The B vitamins. In: Essentials of Human Nutrition, 197-216. (J Mann and S Truswell). New York: Oxford University Press
