Vitamin B2 and Folate Concentrations are Associated with ARA, EPA and DHA Fatty Acids in Red Blood Cells of Brazilian Children and Adolescents.

Fábio V Ued,José Simon Camelo-Junior,Carolina A Coelho-Landell,Jim Kaput,Elaine Hillesheim,Roberta G Salomão,Davi C Aragon,Tamiris T Barros,Roseli B D Toffano,Joyce M Camarneiro,Sofia Moco,Maria Olímpia R V Almada,Martin Kussmann,Jacqueline P Monteiro,Mariana G Mathias

doi:10.3390/nu11122918

Fábio V Ued, José Simon Camelo-Junior + Show 13 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11122918

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Abstract

Vitamins B2, B6, B12, and folate are essential for methylation reactions and possibly influence the transport of polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma and red blood cells (RBC). Associations between B-vitamin biomarkers and fatty acid (FA) profile were analyzed in Brazilian children and adolescents. This cross-sectional study included 249 children and adolescents, aged 9–13 years old. Dietary intake was assessed by the food frequency questionnaire and the healthy eating index (HEI). Biomarkers for vitamins B2, B6, B12, and folate were measured in plasma. The FA profile and the metabolites of one-carbon metabolism were measured in RBC. Associations were tested with multiple linear regression models. An increase of 1 nmol/L in vitamin B2 was associated with an increase of 0.19 mg/dL of EPA, 0.20 mg/dL of ARA, and 0.25 mg/dL of DHA in RBC. An increase of 1 ng/mL in plasma folate was associated with an increase of 0.14 mg/dL of EPA, 0.22 mg/dL of ARA, and 0.21 mg/dL of DHA in RBC. These findings highlight the importance of an adequate intake of vitamin B2 and folate in childhood, since they may improve the FA profile in RBCs and may help prevent cardiovascular disease.

Highlights

Cardiovascular risk factors have become prevalent in children and adolescents [1,2]
Our results show that higher concentrations of vitamin B2 and plasma folate were associated with higher red blood cells (RBC) levels of linoleic acid (LA), ALA, arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
Biomarkers related to vitamin B2 and folate were positively associated with ARA, EPA, and DHA

Summary

Introduction

Cardiovascular risk factors have become prevalent in children and adolescents [1,2]. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with atherosclerosis as the principal cause of death [6]. Evidence suggests that the process of atherosclerosis begins in childhood [7] and progresses through adulthood [8] depending on genetic susceptibility influenced by nutrition, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Dyslipidemia is a common cardiovascular risk factor in childhood, defined by changes in serum or erythrocyte lipid and fatty acid (FA) levels [9,10]. Longitudinal studies have shown that nutritional interventions in children are effective for the prevention of CVD in adults [5,8]

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