Cadmium levels in whole blood were assessed in a group of 18 vegetarian children (age 10 - 14 years) and 35 adolescent vegetarians (15 - 18 years) with a mean period of vegetarianism of 6.6 and 6 years resp. The values were compared with groups on a mixed diet (omnivores, n = 35 children, n = 34 adolescents). The vegetarians had a significantly higher mean cadmium level as compared with omnivores - children 1.30 ± 0,18 vs. 0.74 ± 0.07 mg/l, P < 0.01, adolescents 0.92 ± 0.08 vs. 0.67 ± 0.05 mg/l, P < 0.01. All individual values were within an acceptable range under 5 mg/l with a shift to higher levels in vegetarians. The rate of values above 1 mg/l was 56% in vegetarian children vs. 20% in omnivores and in 34% adolescent vegetarians vs. 6% omnivores. The authors revealed a significant positive linear correlation between the cadmium blood level and the p eriod of vegetarianism (r = 0.772, P < 0.001 - children, r = 0.670, P < 0.001 - adolescents). Vegetarian children consumed daily a ninefold amount of wholemeal products, adolescents a 12 and a half times larger amount. They also included in their menu cereal sprouts, while omnivores did not eat them at all. Cadmium from the soil accumulates mainly in the outer layers of cereal grains and in sprouts. The cadmium blood levels correlated with the glutathione level in red blood cells of vegetarians (r = 0.643, P < 0.01) which is favourable with regard to the crucial role of glutathione in detoxication.

        Key words: children adolescents, vegetarians, omnivores, cadmium blood level, intake of wholemeal foods