Asante, M.Asare, G.Ofori-Amanfo, B.University of Ghana,College of Health Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics2016-09-162017-10-132016-09-162017-10-132015-06http://197.255.68.203/handle/123456789/8614Thesis(MSc)- University of Ghana, 2015Vegetarianism is a dietary lifestyle that involves the restriction of diet, disallowing some or all foods of animal origin, thereby consuming mainly foods of plant origin. Vegetarian diets are composed of only plant products which include fruits and vegetables, as well as grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. The plant products they consume are rich sources of vitamins such as Vitamins A, C and E which act directly as antioxidants, as well as protein and minerals such as zinc, iron, magnesium and selenium, which function as co-factors for antioxidant enzymes, synthesized in the body. Free radicals cause cell damage and have been found to be an important contributory factor in the occurrence of diseases such as brain dysfunction, cancer, cardiovascular diseases. Little data exists on dietary composition and serum levels of endogenous antioxidants of vegetarians in Ghana. Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the diet and serum and plasma levels of two common intracellular antioxidants in Seventh - day Adventist vegetarians and non-vegetarians in Mayera and Dansoman, in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Methodology: A case – control study was carried out involving 39 vegetarians and 30 non-vegetarians. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurement (weight, height, visceral fat and body fat) was measured for all the participants. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain socio- demographic data of the participants. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaire. Venous blood samples were collected to assess serum and plasma levels of the endogenous antioxidants, catalase and superoxide dismutase.xi,110p:illenDietVegetariansSuperoxide DismutaseThesisUniversity of Ghana