TRACE-ELEMENT STATUS IN VEGETARIANS FROM SOUTHERN INDIA

Trace element status in 83 vegetarians from southern India was studied by measuring the concentration of zinc, copper, magnesium and selenium in plasma and hair, and the content of mercury, lead and cadmium in hair, results being compared with those obtained in 47 Swedish controls on mixed diet. Of plasma values among the vegetarians, those for zinc were significantly lower than those among controls, and those for magnesium significantly higher; plasma copper values were significantly higher among female vegetarians and significantly lower among male vegetarians than among the respective control subgroups; the vegetarians' plasma concentrations of zinc, copper and magnesium peaked at 30-40 years of age, and then declined; their plasma zinc concentrations were negatively correlated to their plasma copper concentrations, and positively correlated to body weight and height. Of hair values among the vegetarians, those for zinc were similar to those of controls, but those for copper, magnesium, selenium, mercury, lead and cadmium were significantly higher. There were no correlations between hair and plasma values. It is concluded that the traditional vegetarian diet of Hindus in southern India suffices to maintain adequate trace element status except for zinc.