The purposes of the research presented in this thesis were
to: (l) assess the nutritional status of vegetarian and nonvegetarian
Seventh-day Adventists (SDA), non-SDA non-vegetarians,
and non-vegetarian hormone dependent cancer subjects; (2) determine
the relationship of various blood and urinary biochemical
parameters to dietary intake; (3) determine hormonal status in
these populations; (4) correlate hormonal status with nutrient intake;
and (5) suggest alterations in the diet which may deter the
incidence of breast cancer.
Adult males and females were recruited from the Corvallis
area, and the group was comprised of 51 SDA vegetarians (SV), 16
SDA non-vegetarians (SNV), 53 non-vegetarians (NV), and 18 hormone
dependent cancer subjects (HDCS).
A fasting blood sample, 24-hour urine collection, and 3-day
dietary intake information were obtained from each subject. The
nutrient intake parameters measured were: food energy, protein,
fat, carbohydrate, calcium, iron, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin,
niacin, vitamin B-6, ascorbic acid, saturated fat, linoleic and
oleic acids, and cholesterol. The blood and urine parameters
measured were: plasma estrone, estradiol, estriol, prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone
sulfate, cholesterol, triglyceride, pyridoxal
phosphate, and whole blood selenium; urinary urea nitrogen, 4-
pyridoxic acid, vitamin B-6, and creatinine.
Three-day diet records were analyzed from a computerized
nutrient data base. High levels of protein, vitamin A, ascorbic
acid, thiamin, and riboflavin were consumed by males and females
alike. Similar levels of vitamin A and linoleic acid were consumed
by all groups. Overall, the SV were consuming significantly more
carbohydrate, thiamin and ascorbic acid than non-vegetarian groups;
while, the non-vegetarians were consuming significantly more energy,
protein, fat, saturated fat, oleic acid, cholesterol, calcium,
riboflavin, and niacin than SV. In 2$% and 26% of all women, iron
and vitamin B-6 intakes were below two-thirds of the Recommended
Dietary Allowances.
Approximately 50% of the SDA population consume vegetarian
diets, which may contain higher amounts of fiber than NV diets and
may adversely affect their vitamin B-6 (B-6) and selenium (Se)
status. Groups of male and female SV, SNV, NV, and HDCS were subdivided
into vitamin users and non-users for B-6 comparisons.
Plasma pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) was determined by an enzymatic
method. Urinary B-6 (UB6), 4-pyridoxic acid (4PA) and whole blood
Se were determined by microbiological and fluorometric methods.
No significant differences were found for PLP, 4PA, UB6, dietary
B-6 (DB6), B-6:protein ratios, or % of DB6 intake excreted as 4PA
between male or female SV, SNV, and NV groups. Male PLP, 4PA,
UB6 and DB6 intake mean values were higher than female levels.
Hormone dependent cancer subjects currently receiving chemotherapy
had significantly lower PLP levels than non-therapeutic HDCS. An
extensive evaluation of the interrelationships among urine and
blood B-6 metabolites was done to assess B-6 nutritional status.
Vitamin B-6 status of SV, SNV, and NV did not differ. Selenium
levels of the SV, SNV, NV, and HDCS were low and well below values
reported elsewhere in the United States, but similar in all groups.
Seventh-day Adventists endocrine related cancer rates are lower
than the general population. Investigation of the relationships
between diet and plasma estrone (El), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3),
dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and prolactin (PRL) levels
for SV, SNV, NV, and HDCS was done. Also, estimation of dietary
fat (F) intake from 32 F containing foods was determined from a
questionnaire reflecting the dietary intakes of 14 SV and 9 NV premenopausal
women during the past year. All hormone levels were
determined by radioimmunoassay. The premenopausal SV were consuming
approximately 25% less F than NV, and used significantly less fried
foods (P [less than or equal to] 0.01). Premenopausal NV plasma levels of El and E2, but
not E3, were significantly greater than that of SV (P [less than or equal to] 0.02;
P [less than or equal to] 0.05). Comparisons of the other male or female SV and NV groups
El, E2, E3, DHEA-S, and PRL levels were not different. Regression
analysis of the questionnaire data revealed no significant positive
correlations between F intake and SV or NV premenopausal levels of
any of the three estrogens. However, according to regression analysis
involving 3-day dietary intake averages, premenopausal SV E2
and E3 levels were positively correlated with intakes of linoleic
acid and protein (P [less than or equal to] 0.05; P [less than or equal to] 0.01); also, premenopausal NV prolactin
levels were correlated with intakes of oleic and linoleic
acids, and total fat (P [less than or equal to] 0.005; P [less than or equal to] 0.02; P [less than or equal to] O.Ol). Therefore,
based on these findings and other current evidence, it may be wise
for premenopausal women to reduce meat intake and other products of
high fat content. / Graduation date: 1981
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/27396 |
| Date | 16 October 1980 |
| Creators | Shultz, Terry Dale |
| Contributors | Leklem, James E. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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