Dietary intake and major food sources of vitamin B6 in Korean adults

Abstract

To determine vitamin B6 intakes and major foods sources of Korean adults, three consecutive 24‐hour recalls were collected from 162 healthy adults (20–64 y) living in Seoul and metropolitan area, Gumi, and Kwangju, South Korea, during November, 2011 – March, 2012. The mean vitamin B6 intake and average ratio of vitamin B6 to daily protein intake were 1.80 mg/day and 0.025 mg/g protein, respectively. Vitamin B6 intake of males was higher than that of females (P<0.001), but there was no significant difference in the ratio of vitamin B6 to protein intake by gender. Foods from animal and plant sources provided 29% and 71%, respectively, of the total vitamin B6 intake. The top 10 major dietary sources of vitamin B6 in these Korean adults were Korean Chinese cabbage kimchi, rice, dumpling, pork, rice cake, beef, mandarin orange, banana, chicken, and sweet potato. Only rice, pork, and banana are found in the top 10 sources indicated a decade ago. As for major dietary sources of vitamin B6, the top 10 foods provided 50% of vitamin B6 intake in the current study, whereas it was 64% of total vitamin B6 in Korean adults reported in 2001. Therefore, current dietary contributors of vitamin B6 in Korean adults are more varied compared to those of a decade ago. Supported by 2012 research fund of National Research Foundation of Korea (2012R1A1A2A04669745).