EFFECT OF LACTO-OVO-VEGETARIAN DIET ON SERUM VITAMIN B12 CONCENTRATIONS – FIVE-YEAR PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Background. Avoiding of meat is the basic principle of vegetarian diet with several va-riants existing. In the present study we have focused on lacto-ovo-vegetarian (LOV) diet which includes dairy products and eggs. We have aimed to assess its long-term effect on vitamin B12 status and intended to verify the influence of natural and vitamin B12--fortified food. Material and methods. The prospective study was carried out comprising 16 healthy omnivores (12 females, 4 males) who intentionally declared to follow strict LOV diet for at least 5 years. The studied group was divided into 2 subgroups. First subgroup followed LOV diet based entirely on natural products while the second consumed food fortified with B12 vitamin. Evaluation of vitamin B12 concentration was performed before and af-ter 6, 12, 24 and 60 months from LOV diet implementation. Results. Five-years of LOV diet resulted in significant decrease of serum vitamin B12 concentrations in the whole studied group (p < 0.05). However, the significant drop of vi-tamin B 12 level was in fact limited to the subgroup consuming exclusively natural prod-ucts (p < 0.05). In none of the subjects abnormal serum vitamin B12 levels were observed. Conclusions. Five-year lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet did not result in a risk of vitamin B1