BIOMOLECULES AND ENZYMES

Detailed explanation-1: -Vegetarians have a high prevalence of depleted iron stores. A higher proportion of vegetarians, compared to nonvegetarians, had iron deficiency anemia. This is especially true for premenopausal vegetarian women.

Detailed explanation-2: -Vegans and vegetarians should be particularly careful because their diet lacks heme iron, which is the form that’s best absorbed. Grain products, vegetables and fruit also contain iron, but in non-heme form, which is absorbed at 1-5%. Heme iron in meat (particularly red meat) and fish is absorbed at 10-25%.

Detailed explanation-3: -Dietary guidelines have set vegetarians recommended daily intake (RDI) for iron to be 1.8 times higher than that for non-vegetarians. Meaning, vegetarians need to be consuming 80% more (non-haem) iron than omnivores. This can get a little tricky, and unless meals and snacks are planned well it can be hard to meet.