'Extreme vegetarianism can be fatal'

resulting in diseases including strokes, heart attack, diabetes and other fatal diseases, experts have opined

Extreme vegetarian practices among Indians can lead to hyperhomocysteinemia and high homocysteine levels resulting in diseases including strokes, heart attack, diabetes and other fatal diseases, experts have opined.

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At the end of two-day long conference of Indian study group on Homocystein at Varca in Goa, medical practitioners said homocysteine levels amongst Indian population was alarming and it is more amongst the "extreme vegetarians".

"We are not advocating that everyone should eat meat but milk, eggs or green salad can be consumed to make up for deficiency of B12, folic acid and pyridoxine," stated Dr Rusom Wadia, Pune-based consulting physician and neurologist.

Various medical professionals including Dr Wadia, Dr G S Sainani, cardiodiabetologist, Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai, Dr Pradip Talwalkar, consulting diabetologist, S L Raheja Hospital, Mumbai, Dr Y P Munjal, director, centre for diabetes and lifestyle diseases participated in the first ever such conference aimed to work out guidelines on awareness amongst general practitioners and masses about homocysteine level, which is a major risk factor.