ABSTRACT
I. Introduction ...................................................................................... 300 II. Protein............................................................................................... 301 III. Iron.................................................................................................... 302
A. Iron Deficiency.......................................................................... 302 B. Iron Absorption ......................................................................... 303 C. Iron Status of Vegetarians......................................................... 304
IV. Zinc ................................................................................................... 306 V. Calcium ............................................................................................. 307
A. Dietary Effects on Calcium Balance ........................................ 308 B. The Vegetarian Advantage........................................................ 310 C. Vegan Studies ............................................................................ 311 D. Phytoestrogens........................................................................... 312 E. Macrobiotic Diets....................................................................... 313 F. Postmenopausal Women........................................................... 314 G. Plant Sources of Calcium.......................................................... 314 H. Calcium Supplements................................................................ 316 I. Summary .................................................................................... 316
VI. Vitamin D ......................................................................................... 316 A. Vegetarian Studies ..................................................................... 317 B. Summary .................................................................................... 318
VII. Vitamin B
....................................................................................... 318
A. Absorption of Vitamin B
........................................................ 319 B. Symptoms of B
Deficiency .................................................... 319 C. Are Vegetarians at Risk?............................................................ 320 D. How Much Vitamin B
Do We Need? .................................... 321 E. Vitamin B
Levels in Foods..................................................... 321 VIII. Riboflavin.......................................................................................... 322 IX. Iodine................................................................................................ 323 X. The Elderly ....................................................................................... 323 XI. Conclusions ...................................................................................... 324
References .................................................................................................. 325
Well-balanced vegetarian diets offer many health benefits including decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and possibly type II diabetes.
