Adequate vitamin B12 and folate status of Norwegian vegans and vegetarians.

Plant-based diets may increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency due to limited intake of animal-source foods, while dietary folate increases when adhering to plant-based diets. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the B12 and folate status of Norwegian vegans and vegetarians using dietary B12 intake, B12 and folic acid supplement use, and biomarkers (serum B12 (B12), plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), plasma methylmalonic acid (MMA) and serum folate). Vegans (n 115) and vegetarians (n 90) completed a 24-h dietary recall and a FFQ and provided a non-fasting blood sample. cB12, a combined indicator for evaluation of B12 status, was calculated. B12 status was adequate in both vegans and vegetarians according to the cB12 indicator; however 4 % had elevated B12. Serum B12, tHcy, MMA concentrations and the cB12 indicator (overall median: 357 pmol/l, 9·0 µmol/l, 0·18 µmol/l, 1·30 (cB12)) did not differ between vegans and vegetarians, unlike for folate (vegans: 25·8 nmol/l, vegetarians: 21·6 nmol/l, P = 0·027). Serum B12 concentration < 221 pmol/l was found in 14 % of all participants. Vegetarians revealed the highest proportion of participants below the recommended daily intake of 2 µg/d including supplements (40 v. 18 %, P < 0·001). Predictors of higher serum B12 concentrations were average daily supplement use and older age. Folate deficiency (< 10 nmol/l) was uncommon overall (< 2·5 %). The combined indicator cB12 suggested that none of the participants was B12-depleted; however, low serum B12 concentration was found in 14 % of the participants. Folate concentrations were adequate, indicating adequate folate intake in Norwegian vegans and vegetarians.

Exchanging a few commercial, regularly consumed food items with improved fat quality reduces total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial.

The healthy Nordic diet has been previously shown to have health beneficial effects among subjects at risk of CVD. However, the extent of food changes needed to achieve these effects is less explored. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of exchanging a few commercially available, regularly consumed key food items (e.g. spread on bread, fat for cooking, cheese, bread and cereals) with improved fat quality on total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and inflammatory markers in a double-blind randomised, controlled trial. In total, 115 moderately hypercholesterolaemic, non-statin-treated adults (25-70 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental diet group (Ex-diet group) or control diet group (C-diet group) for 8 weeks with commercially available food items with different fatty acid composition (replacing SFA with mostly n-6 PUFA). In the Ex-diet group, serum total cholesterol (P<0·001) and LDL-cholesterol (P<0·001) were reduced after 8 weeks, compared with the C-diet group. The difference in change between the two groups at the end of the study was -9 and -11 % in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, respectively. No difference in change in plasma levels of inflammatory markers (high-sensitive C-reactive protein, IL-6, soluble TNF receptor 1 and interferon-γ) was observed between the groups. In conclusion, exchanging a few regularly consumed food items with improved fat quality reduces total cholesterol, with no negative effect on levels of inflammatory markers. This shows that an exchange of a few commercially available food items was easy and manageable and led to clinically relevant cholesterol reduction, potentially affecting future CVD risk.

An acute bout of exercise modulate the inflammatory response in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in healthy young men.

CONTEXT: Exercise increases the levels of circulating inflammatory mediators. OBJECTIVE: Does an acute bout of exercise affect the mRNA gene expression level of inflammatory markers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and contribute to the circulating levels of inflammatory mediators? MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten healthy, non-smoking men (22-28 years old) performed 1-hour cycling at 70% of VO2 max. RESULTS: The gene transcripts of CXCL16, IL-1ß, IL-8, COX-2, TXB21 and GATA3 were significantly up-regulated in PBMCs. Serum levels of CXCL16, IL-6, TNFα and IL-10 were also significantly increased after exercise. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Increased mRNA transcription of inflammatory genes in PBMCs may contribute to increased level of inflammatory markers after an acute bout of exercise. The increased mRNA levels of GATA-3 and TXB21 may indicate that T cell lymphocytes are activated and secrete cytokines into the circulation. It needs to be further investigated if exercise changes the Th1/Th2 balance.