Department of Food and Nutrition, Punjab Agricultureal University, Ludhiana-141 004, India.
Sixty postmenopausal women (30 vegetarians and 30 nonvegetarians) in the age group of 5060 years, clinically healthy from the various localities/strata were selected. Background information, physically activity pattern and anthropometric measurements of the subjects were recorded using an interview schedule. Blood pressure of the subjects was also recorded. The blood sample were analysed for glucose and lipid profile. The body weight of both vegetarians and nonvegetarians were found to be higher but prevalence of obesity was higher in nonvegetarians (17 vs 10%).Vegetarians were also reported to have significantly lower TSFT (12.97 vs 14.37mm), MUAC(29.47 vs 33.07cm) and per cent body fat (38.72 vs 41.89%).Vegetarian postmenopausal women had significantly lower systolic (123.67 vs 145.33mm Hg)and diastolic blood pressure (83 vs 96.33mm Hg).The lipid profile of vegetarians showed lower level of TC (185.30 vs 111194.72 mg%), TG ()125.23 vs 139.17 mg%, LDL-C (112.92 vs 125.70mg%),TC?HDL-C(4.14 vs 4.81),LDL-C/HDL(2.53 VS 3.13) but significantly higher level if HDL-C (44.79 VS 41.16 MG %).
