Abstract
Objective: Coumarin 7-hydroxylation was investigated in 21 Finnish vegans (20 females, one male) consuming a strict, uncooked vegan diet (“living food diet”) and in their matched omnivorous controls, by means of an in vivo coumarin test.
Method:
A capsule containing 5 mg of coumarin (Venalot®) was taken after an overnight fast, and urine samples were collected before and 2, 4 and 6 h after the drug administration. The extent and rate of urinary excretion of 7-hydroxycoumarin was determined using HPLC.
Results:
The total urinary excretion of 7-hydroxycoumarin during 6 h was 58 (range 23–85) and 64 (range 39–92)% of the administred dose in the vegan and control groups. The coumarin index (excretion of 7-hydroxycoumarin during the first 2 h as percentage of total excretion) was 72% in the vegan and 78% in the control groups. A negative correlation was observed between the coumarin index and the consumption of wheatgrass juice by the vegans (r = −0.60, P < 0.01, n = 21). Proportion of slow hydroxylators (excreting 7-hydroxycoumarin after 4 h) was not statistically different between the groups (5/21 in the vegans vs 8/20 in the controls).
Conclusion:
According to the present study, the clearly different dietary patterns and nutrient intakes between the vegans and the omnivores resulted in similar extent and rate of 7-hydroxycoumarin formation, indicating only a minor effect on coumarin hydroxylase (CYP2A6) activity by the plant substances in the uncooked vegan diet.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 3 May 1995/Accepted in revised form: 4 October 1995
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rauma, AL., Rautio, A., Pasanen, M. et al. Coumarin 7-hydroxylation in long-term adherents of a strict uncooked vegan diet. E J Clin Pharmacol 50, 133–137 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002280050081
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002280050081