Non-anemic deficiency in vegetarian individuals and associated factors: a cross-sectional study.

Authors

  • Sabrina Silva de OLIVEIRA Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus Viçosa-MG
  • Alessandra SILVA Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
  • Lisiane Lopes da CONCEIÇÃO Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade de Uberlândia
  • Eliana Carla Gomes de SOUZA Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus Viçosa-MG
  • Rafael Junio Rombardi da SILVA
  • Maria Sônia Lopes Duarte Universidade Federal de Viçosa

Keywords:

Non-anemic iron deficiency, Ferritin, Biochemical markers, Vegetarians

Abstract

Introduction: Non-anemic iron deficiency (NADF) is little explored in the literature, mainly, in vegetarian individuals. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of DFNA and its association with socioeconomic, biochemical and anthropometric aspects of vegetarians individuals. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out, based on data from the Pro-Vegetarian Research and Extension Program, at the Federal University of Viçosa (Brazil). Vegetarian individuals and those with serum ferritin data were considered eligible for this study. Results: The prevalence of DFNA among vegetarians was 41.67%, being higher in women (p<0.001), in

individuals with a vegetarian diet longer than 6 months (p=0,034) and in those with iron supplementation (p=0,017). The median number of erythrocytes was longer in those individuals with ferritin ≥ 30.00 µg/L (p=0.001), for hemoglobin (p<0.001) and hematocrit (p<0.001). The median total iron binding capacity (TIBC) was higher in individuals with ferritin < 30.00 µg/L (p=0.011). The main results showed that females had a 3.8 times higher prevalence of DFNA, with adherence to vegetarianism for ethical reasons, 40%, those who supplemented with, 50% and non-students, 30% lower; and those with adherence to vegetarianism for more than 6 months, 1% lower. Conclusion: The identification of DFNA is essential since iron is a nutrient at risk in this population given the greater vulnerability to inadequate iron stores.

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Published

2026-05-28

How to Cite

Silva de OLIVEIRA, S., SILVA, A., Lopes da CONCEIÇÃO, L., Gomes de SOUZA, E. C., Rombardi da SILVA, R. J., & Lopes Duarte, M. S. (2026). Non-anemic deficiency in vegetarian individuals and associated factors: a cross-sectional study. REVISTA CIENTÍFICA DA FAMINAS, 21(2), e20261055. Retrieved from https://periodicos.faminas.edu.br/index.php/RCFaminas/article/view/1055