Table 3. Status of biochemical basic data and selected vitamins and minerals of the participants in the cross-sectional RBVD study by diet.
| Parameter | Vegans | Omnivores | p | Reference intervals |
| Hemoglobin (g/dL) | 13.6 ± 1.2 | 13.8 ± 1.3 | 0.47 | F: 12.0–15.4; M: 13.5–17.2 |
| Hematocrit (%) | 40.6 ± 3.0 | 41.2 ± 3.2 | 0.42 | F: 35.5–45.0; M: 39.5–50.5 |
| Red blood cells (T/L) | 4.5 ± 0.5 | 4.7 ± 0.3 | 0.29 | F: 3.9–5.15; M: 4.3–5.75 |
| MCV (fl) | 91 (88–92) | 89 (85–91) | 0.09 | 80–99 |
| MCHC (g/dL) | 33.4 ± 0.9 | 33.4 ± 1.2 | 0.89 | 31.5–36.0 |
| Leucocytes (G/L) | 4.7 (4.1–6.4) | 5.2 (4.6–6.5) | 0.15 | 3.6–10.2 |
| Lymphocytes (%) | 31 ± 10 | 34 ± 8 | 0.18 | 20–44 |
| Platelets (G/L) | 215 ± 70 | 239 ± 49 | 0.11 | 150–370 |
| Total protein (g/dL) | 6.8 ± 0.4 | 7.0 ± 0.3 | 0.21 | 6.2–8.3 |
| hsCRP (mg/L) | 0.39 (0.21–0.88) | 0.63 (0.24–1.74) | 0.25 | <1.0 |
| Glucose (mg/dL) | 81 (78–87) | 83 (77–90) | 0.41 | 55–100 |
| HbA1c (%) | 5.1 (5.0–5.2) | 5.2 (5.1–5.4) | 0.09 | <6.5 |
| GGT (U/L) | 15 (12–20) | 18 (14–24) | 0.07 | F: <42; M: <71 |
| AST (U/L) | 23 (19–25) | 22 (18–27) | 0.65 | F: <35; M: <50 |
| ALT (U/L) | 21 (17–27) | 19 (15–28) | 0.57 | F: <35; M: <50 |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | 0.82 ± 0.15 | 0.89 ± 0.15 | 0.042 | F: <0.95; M: <1.17 |
| Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (mU/L) | 2.1 ± 0.9 | 2.4 ± 1.1 | 0.34 | 0.27–4.2 |
| Parathyroid hormone (pg/mL) | 53 (40–66) | 51 (27–58) | 0.16 | 15–65 |
| Iron (µg/dL) | 89 ± 31 | 106 ± 39 | 0.053 | 33–193 |
| Ferritin (ng/mL) | 60 (31–84) | 69 (32–114) | 0.23 | F: 15–150; M: 30–400 |
| Cholesterol (mg/dL) | 157 (137–180) | 204 (179–223) | <0.0001 | <200 |
| LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) | 87 (69–97) | 116 (94–136) | 0.001 | |
| HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) | 57 (51–72) | 62 (52–81) | 0.21 | > 40 |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 71 (53–91) | 85 (52–121) | 0.26 | <200 |
| Vitamin B12 (pg/mL) | 458 (295–758) | 363 (308–494) | 0.12 | 197–771 |
| Holotranscobalmin (pmol/L) | 89 (59–205) | 84 (68–100) | 0.35 | <35 |
| Homocysteine (µmol/L) | 8.6 (6.7–11.3) | 8.8 (7.3–10.5) | 0.90 | 5–15 |
| Methylmalonic acid (µmol/L) | 0.17 (0.15–0.22) | 0.18 (0.16–0.21) | 0.62 | <0.26 |
| 4cB12*1 | 0.54 (0.07–1.24) | 0.42 (0.19–0.70) | 0.47 | *1 |
| 25-hydroxyvitamin D (nmol/L) | 68.6 (21.5–88.1) | 45.4 (34.6–68.6) | 0.34 | 20–150 |
| Folate (ng/mL) | 10.9 (7.7–12.8) | 7.8 (6.4–11.2) | 0.03 | 3.9–26.8 |
| Vitamin A (µmol/L) | 1.8 ± 0.3 | 2.1 ± 0.5 | 0.003 | 1.46–2.84 |
| Vitamin A/cholesterol (µmol/mmol) | 0.45 (0.36–0.50) | 0.36 (0.33–0.52) | 0.19 | |
| Alpha-tocopherol (µmol/L) | 28.7 (26.0–34.0) | 34.8 (28.7–41.5) | 0.003 | 18.9–38.8 |
| Alpha-tocopherol/cholesterol (µmo/mmol) | 7.11 (6.51–7.43) | 6.72 (6.08–7.23) | 0.06 | |
| Vitamin K1 (nmol/L) | 1.55 (1.30–2.23) | 0.78 (0.54–1.13) | <0.0001 | 0.1–8.7 |
| Vitamin B1 thiamine (nmol/L) | 7.5 (5.8–8.6) | 6.4 (5.0–7.9) | 0.15 | 7–16 |
| Vitamin B2 riboflavin (nmol/L) | 6.0 (4.4–10.7) | 9.1 (6.8–11.8) | 0.03 | 5–38 |
| Vitamin B3 nicotinamide (nmol/L) | 190 (161–239) | 243 (194–299) | 0.01 | 92–388 |
| Vitamin B6 pyridoxal 5‘-phosphate (nmol/L) | 67 (49–89) | 79 (47–100) | 0.62 | 17–102 |
| Selenium (µg/L) | 68 (60–82) | 77 (68–84) | 0.11 | |
| Selenoprotein P (mg/L) | 3.3 (2.6–4.5) | 5.0 (4.2–5.5) | <0.0001 | |
| Zinc (µg/dL) | 80 ± 12 | 87 ± 13 | 0.008 | 60–120 |
| Iodine (µg/L)*2 | 28 (18–42) | 74 (42–102) | <0.0001 | >100*3 |
| Calcium (mg/L)*2 | 56 (37–73) | 86 (49–166) | 0.004 |
All results reported as median (interquartile range) or mean ± standard deviation; p values according to Mann–Whitney U test or t-test
*1 4cB12, vitamin B12 indicator, combing the four preceding markers, adjusted for age;
(>1.5 increased B12; -0.5 to 1.5 adequate supply; <-0.5 to -2.5 undersupply; <-2.5 deficiency)
*2 Excretion in 24-h urine sample
*3 WHO cut-off value for undersupply; F, women; M, men