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ILLEGAL DRUGS AND NUTRITION IN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Author(s) -
Davis R. E.,
Midalia N. D.,
Curnow D. H.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1978.tb142008.x
Subject(s) - significant difference , medicine , lysergic acid diethylamide , vitamin , physiology , pyridoxal , vitamin b6 , folic acid , chemistry , biochemistry , receptor , phosphate , serotonin
The nutritional status of 82 marihuana‐smoking students from two establishments of tertiary education was studied and compared with 63 controls. There was little difference between these two groups of students. Thirty‐four per cent of those taking drugs had a diet which was deficient in one or more nutrients, compared with 30% of the controls. Four of the students who took drugs and three controls had a marginally reduced serum level of vitamin B 12 , but all were taking oral contraceptive agents. Sixteen marihuana‐smokers had either a low folate or low pyridoxal serum level, and another three had reduced serum levels of both vitamins compared with a total of eleven among the controls. Forty‐three students (52%) had used, or were using, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in addition to marihuana, and 10 had used mushrooms ( Psilocybe cubensis ). Thirteen students appeared to be “stoned” at interview.