创新背景

植物蛋白营养全面，与动物蛋白相仿，易被人体消化吸收，具有多种生理保健功能。基于植物来源的饮食有益于人口健康和环境。但植物性饮食中的某些维生素和矿物质的摄入量比起动物性饮食会有所缺失。

创新过程

比较研究以素食和混合饮食人群健康状况，赫尔辛基大学的研究人员发现，纯素饮食人群和一定程度上坚持更多植物性饮食的人体内的叶酸摄入量和叶酸浓度更高，但维生素B12和碘的摄入量减少。并且，在个别研究中发现，植物性饮食的人体内的铁储存量较低，即使他们的铁摄入量一直很丰富。

因为气候影响，芬兰以及北部地区的人需要逐渐改变饮食习惯，从动物性饮食过渡到更可持续的植物性饮食，这将有助于身体健康，改善饮食中的脂肪质量，从而提高血液中的脂质水平。
研究以136名健康成年志愿者为对象，让他们分别遵循三种饮食习惯，一种是和普通芬兰人一样严重依赖动物蛋白，另外两种是不同比例地让植物蛋白取代动物蛋白，为期12周进行观察研究。和之前一样，用植物性蛋白质来源部分替代饮食中的动物蛋白质来源导致叶酸和铁摄入量增加，但维生素B12和碘摄入量减少。
但是，研究观测到身体铁状态或叶酸浓度的生物标志物没有变化，植物性饮食中存在足够的维生素C等促进铁吸收的因素。

同时，植物蛋白来源取代动物蛋白来源越多，维生素B12的摄入量就越少，饮食组人员血液中活性维生素B12的浓度显著降低。并且，与动物性饮食相比，两种植物性饮食中从食物中摄入的碘和尿液中的碘浓度均有降低。
研究人员表示，饮食转向植物性来源的过程需要确保维生素B12和碘的摄入量重组。目前许多植物性产品中添加碘和维生素B12，但始终和食物自带的营养素还是有所不同。
在饮食中寻找乳制品替代品时，需要优先考虑补充维生素B12和碘的植物性产品，保证在改变饮食时让营养摄入均衡，保证身体健康。

创新关键点

对比动物性来源和植物性饮食来源的饮食组，研究植物性蛋白缺少的营养素，在转变饮食过程中注意补充营养素。

Plant-based diets require vitamin B12 and iodine supplementation

Comparing the health of people on vegetarian and mixed diets, researchers at the University of Helsinki found that people on vegan diets and those who adhered to a more plant-based diet had higher folate intake and folic acid concentrations, but reduced intakes of vitamin B12 and iodine. And, in individual studies, people on plant-based diets have lower iron stores, even though their iron intake has been abundant.

Because of climate influences, people in Finland as well as in the northern regions need to gradually change their eating habits and transition from animal-based to a more sustainable plant-based diet, which will contribute to good health, improve the quality of fat in the diet, and thus increase lipid levels in the blood.

The study, which involved 136 healthy adult volunteers, followed three dietary habits, one that relied heavily on animal protein as the average Finn, and two of which were based on plant protein in different proportions instead of animal protein, for a 12-week observational study. As before, partially replacing animal protein sources in the diet with plant-based protein sources led to increased folate and iron intake, but reduced vitamin B12 and iodine intake.

However, studies have observed no change in the body's iron status or biomarkers of folic acid concentration, and factors such as adequate vitamin C are present in the plant-based diet to promote iron absorption.

At the same time, the more plant protein sources replaced animal protein sources, the less vitamin B12 was consumed, and the concentration of active vitamin B12 in the blood of the diet group was significantly reduced. Also, iodine intake from food and iodine concentrations in urine in both plant diets were reduced compared to animal diets.

The researchers say the shift of diet to plant-based sources requires ensuring that intake of vitamin B12 and iodine is restructured. At present, iodine and vitamin B12 are added to many plant-based products, but they are still different from the nutrients that come with food.

When looking for dairy alternatives in the diet, priority needs to be given to plant-based products supplemented with vitamin B12 and iodine to ensure balanced nutritional intake and good health when changing diets.