Abstract

The amount and type of dietary protein that effects affect bone mineral loss after menopause and different dietary patterns may influence anthropometric measurements, biochemical values, and bone metabolism. Objective : Our objective was to investigate bone metabolism and chronic disease factors in two different dietary patterns. Design: The sample consisted of 40 lacto-ove-vegetarians(LOV) and 49 omnivores aged from 47 to 85 years in good condition without any medical problems. Results : The average energy intake of LOV was 1414.0 kcal and omnivores, 1403.2 kcal. The difference between means was not statistically significant. The differences of means of body weight and BMI between the two groups were not significant but the systolic blood pressure of LOV group was significantly lower than omniovores(p<0.05). The values of serum cholesterol(p<0.05) and glucose(p<0.05) of LOV were signifcantly lower than that of omnivores. The serum albumin level(p<0.01) of LOV was lower than it's counterpart but in a normal range. The intake of crude fiber(p<0.05) of LOV group was significantly higher. The urinary pH of LOV was 7.4 and that of omnivores was 6.3(p<0.001). Plant calcium(p>0.05) and plant iron(p<0.001) had positive correlations with the uninary pH but animal protein(p>0.05) and animal iron(p>0.05) had negative correlations with the urinary pH. The level of urinary biochemical marker of bone resorption, deoxpyidinoline(DPD) of LOV was significantly lower than the other group(p>0.05). The T-scores of bone mineral density for the two sites in the two groups were not significantly different. Conclusions : The DPD level and urinary pH value of LOV were more desirable for the bone metabolism that the omnivores. The diet of LOV had lower risk factors of chronic diseases than the other group.

• Keywords: omnivores; lacto-ovo-vegetarians(LOV); biochemical marker; bone resorption; deoxypyridinoline(DPD)