Análise e comparação da vitamina B12 sérica em adeptos ao vegetarianismo e indivíduos não vegetarianos

Abstract

Introduction: Vitamin B12 plays key roles in the human body as maintenance of the nervous system metabolism and red blood cells in addition to reducing DNA damage. Objective: A quantitative analysis of vitamin B12 in vegetarians was performed, considering the classifications and comparing the plasma levels of vitamin B12 with non-vegetarians.Materials and Methods: Descriptive exploratory descriptive exploratory field of the transverse type was used, vegetarian descriptors and vitamin

B12 were used. Data collection and blood samples from vegetarians and non- vegetarians took place in two settings: at a vegetarian fair located in the capital of

Goiás, and at a higher education institution in the city of Trindade -GO. Subsequently the analyzes of the blood samples were carried out in the Laboratory of the University of Goyazes Trindade-GO, through the ELISA biochemical test (accubind monobind kit, colorimetric immunoenzyme method), the data were tabulated and analyzed using the Excel 2013 program. It points out that all participants in the data collection and blood sample signed the informed consent form. Results: Serum vitamin B12 was measured in 65 samples, the following results were obtained: 56% of vegetarians presented levels below the reference values, according to the classification of vegetarians, 69% of vegans presented levels below the reference values, for the (ovolactos, lactos and ovovegetarianos) 47% presented low levels. In the non-vegetarian group, 52% had low levels of vitamin B12, 71% of vegetarians use non-vegetarian supplements and 9% vegetarians. Conclusion: Vitamin B12 dosage is important for all individuals regardless of their diet, non-vegetarians exhibited low levels of vitamin B12, similar to the results of vegetarians, however, most of the population the studied vegetarian makes the use of drug supplementation. It is necessary to develop more research on the thematic and the implementation of educational interventions with the objective of promoting health, stimulating the awareness of the importance of vitamin B12 for the maintenance of vital functions of the human organism.