| p>A study done in Germany demonstrates that | | | | compare the blood plasma vitamin B12 levels of |
| pregnant vegetarian women may not have an | | | | women who ate a traditional western diet (meat |
| adequate supply of vitamin B12. This study was | | | | eaters) with women on a vegan diet and |
| performed at the German Institute of Human | | | | ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet. |
| Nutritrion in Postdam-Rehbrücke located in | | | | Over one hundred pregnant women were recruited |
| Nuthetal, Germany. | | | | for the study and divided into three groups: The |
| Vitamin B12 is only found naturally in foods derived | | | | ovo-lacto-vegetarian group, the low-meat eater |
| from animal sources. However, many women are | | | | group, and the control group. The |
| opting to restrict themselves to diets of | | | | ovo-lacto-vegetarians were women who never ate |
| predominantly plant origin in the belief that this will | | | | meat at all in the three years prior to the study. The |
| increase their lifespan and reduce the likelihood of | | | | women in the control group were not on any diet |
| death from cancer and heart disease. | | | | (regular meat eaters). Blood samples were taken |
| Many pregnant vegetarians are choosing to include | | | | from all the women throughout their pregnancies. |
| eggs and milk in their diets to supply them with | | | | As far as Body Mass Index (BMI) is concerned, the |
| vitamin B12, which is necessary for proper nerve | | | | vegetarians and low-meat eaters had lower |
| formation in the fetus. Hence, their diet is referred to | | | | pre-pregnancy BMIs than the control group (meat |
| as the "lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet." This particular | | | | eaters). |
| study in Germany was done in reaction to other | | | | With regard to B12 concentrations, the vegetarian |
| studies that showed that infants born to mothers on | | | | and low-meat eaters had much lower levels of |
| strictly vegetarian (vegan) diets were deficient in | | | | vitamin B12. There was not much difference |
| vitamin B12. | | | | between the vegetarian and the low-meat eaters |
| A woman who is B12 deficient is at a greater risk | | | | groups. |
| during pregnancy for pre-eclampsia and other | | | | In summary, the study demonstrates that women on |
| pregnancy-related complications. Furthermore, the | | | | vegetarian diets are at greater risk for a B12 |
| fetus is at greater risk for neural tube defects. A | | | | deficiency, thus placing their infants at a greater risk |
| breast-fed infant of such a woman has a greater | | | | for neural tube defects. |
| likelihood for developmental abnormalities and growth | | | | If you are pregnant and do not eat much meat, it is |
| failure. | | | | highly recommended that you supplement your diet |
| The purpose of the study in Germany was just to | | | | with vitamin B12. |