Are Vegetarians Prone To Strokes?

[suchandra 1]

Are Vegetarians Prone To Strokes?

 

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/ET_Cetera/Vegetarians_prone_to_strokes_Study/articleshow/3227497.cms

NEW DELHI, INDIA, August 1, 2008: Strokes are the second most common cause of deaths and the commonest cause of severe disability. Now a study has shown that deficiency of Vitamin B12, usually seen in vegetarians, can predispose a person to strokes much more than the usual risk factors — diabetes and hypertension.

“While 20% of Indians suffer from diabetes and high BP,” says Dr Arun Garg, consultant neurologist, Max Hospitals, “incidence of homocysteinemia (increased levels of homocysteine, an amino acid) caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, is 70%. This is seen more among vegetarians as this vitamin is mainly found in meat and milk, if it’s neither boiled nor pasteurised.” In fact, deficiency of vitamins B12, B6 and folate causes two-thirds of strokes.

This risk is four times higher in vegetarians. As folate is found in vegetables and fruits, its deficiency is rare among Indians, but that of vitamin B12 is common.

The link between strokes and vegetarianism was confirmed in a five-year study by Garg and Dr A K Jain, neurologist, Jain Neuro Centre, in two Max hospitals and this Centre. From 2003, 4,680 OPD patients were screened for vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels.

It was found that 60% patients had vitamin B12 levels below 400 pg/ml and 38.9% had less than 200 pg/ml. Homocysteine levels were high (over 15 micromol/l) in 36%. And out of these, over 80% were either strict vegetarians or took non-vegetarian food less than once a week. This showed the co-relation between vegetarians and strokes.

Prevention would cost less than Rs 10 per day, says Garg. All one has to do is take prescribed doses of vitamin B12 and B6 and folic acid. These are shown to reduce homocysteine level by 38% and the risk of stroke by 20-30%. Goyal says, “Vitamin B12 is also there in soyabean, legumes, dairy products, cottage cheese, etc.”

[HPI adds: According to Dr. Virender Sodhi, an Ayurvedic Physician in Seattle, WA, vegetarians do show low levels of folic acid and B12. This is true as our diets have been refined,

processed and include added chemicals. The solution is to take 1000 mcg of Folic acid and B12 twice a day and measure your Homocysteine regularly at least once a year.]