Serum concentrations of alpha-2-macroglobulin and other serum proteinase inhibitors in Thai vegetarians and omnivores

Abstract

Serum concentrations of albumin, prealbumin together with the serum proteinase inhibitors α 1 -acid glycoprotein (α 1 GP), α 1 -antitrypsin (AT), α 2 -macgroglobulin (α 2 M), C1 inhibitor (C1) and inter-α-trypsininhibitor (IαT), nutritional anthropometry were determined in 132 vegetarians and 68 omnivores from Thailand. Serum concentrations of prealbumin, α 1 GP, AT, C1 and IαT were found to be lower and albumin and α 2 M to be higher in vegetarians than in omnivores. The parameters of nutritional anthropometry were lower but still in an acceptable range amongst the vegetarians. In both groups, a negative correlation of a number of anthropometric variables with α 2 M was observed. The higher α 2 M values in vegetarians compared with omnivores might be due to a mechanism which enables the the body to adjust its requirement to intake by slowing down catabolic rates. Lower C1 concentrations in vegetarians might hypothetically result in a higher risk of asthma and allergy. © 1994 Elsevier Science Ltd.