{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,6]],"date-time":"2026-10-06T14:57:50Z","timestamp":1791298670755,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,3,18]],"date-time":"2021-03-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1616025600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Biomolecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Although plant-based diets provide well-established physical and environmental health benefits, omitting meat or meat products has also been associated with a risk of being deficient in specific nutrients, such as iron. As data on the iron status among Norwegian vegans, vegetarians and pescatarians are lacking, the present study aimed to assess iron status in these groups of healthy adults. Blood markers for iron status were measured in 191 participants (18\u201360 years old) comprising 106 vegans, 54 vegetarians and 31 pescatarians: serum-ferritin (S-Fe), serum-iron (S-Iron) and serum-total iron binding capacity (S-TIBC). Serum-transferrin-saturation (S-TSAT) was estimated (S-Iron\/S-TIBC \u00d7 100). The median concentration of blood markers for iron status were within the normal range with no difference between the different dietary practices. In total, 9% reported iron supplement use the last 24 h. S-Fe concentrations below reference (&lt;15 \u03bcg\/L) were found in 8% of the participating women, of which one participant reported iron supplement use. In multiple regression analysis, duration of adherence to dietary practices and the female gender were found to be the strongest predictors for decreased S-Fe concentration. In conclusion, although the participants were eating a plant-based diet, the majority had sufficient iron status. Female vegans and vegetarians of reproductive age are at risk of low iron status and should have their iron status monitored.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/biom11030454","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,3,18]],"date-time":"2021-03-18T11:41:06Z","timestamp":1616067666000},"page":"454","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["Iron Status of Vegans, Vegetarians and Pescatarians in Norway"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Sigrun","family":"Henjum","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Science, Oslo Metropolitan University, Kunnskapsveien 55, 2007 Kjeller, Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Synne","family":"Groufh-Jacobsen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nutrition and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Universitetsveien 25, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3349-6706","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tonje Holte","family":"Stea","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health and Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Universitetsveien 25, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Live Edvardsen","family":"Tonheim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Science, Oslo Metropolitan University, Kunnskapsveien 55, 2007 Kjeller, Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2485-2334","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kari","family":"Almendingen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Science, Oslo Metropolitan University, Kunnskapsveien 55, 2007 Kjeller, Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,3,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"(2020). 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