Dietary Intake Of Vitamin B12 Research Articles

α1-Acid Glycoprotein and Dietary Intake in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients

Management of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients requires monitoring each of the components of malnutrition–inflammation–atherosclerosis (MIA) syndrome. Restrictive diet can negatively affect nutritional status and inflammation. An acute-phase protein—α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), has been associated with energy metabolism in animal and human studies. The aim of our study was to look for a relationship between serum AGP concentrations, laboratory parameters, and nutrient intake in ESRD patients. The study included 59 patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis. A 24 h recall assessed dietary intake during four non-consecutive days—two days in the post-summer period, and two post-winter. Selected laboratory tests were performed: complete blood count, serum iron, total iron biding capacity (TIBC) and unsaturated iron biding capacity (UIBC), vitamin D, AGP, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, prealbumin, and phosphate–calcium metabolism markers (intact parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphate). Recorded dietary intake was highly deficient. A majority of patients did not meet recommended daily requirements for energy, protein, fiber, iron, magnesium, folate, and vitamin D. AGP correlated positively with CRP (R = 0.66), platelets (R = 0.29), and negatively with iron (R = −0.27) and TIBC (R = −0.30). AGP correlated negatively with the dietary intake of plant protein (R = −0.40), potassium (R = −0.27), copper (R = −0.30), vitamin B6 (R = −0.27), and folates (R = −0.27), p < 0.05. However, in multiple regression adjusted for confounders, only CRP was significantly associated with AGP. Our results indicate that in hemodialyzed patients, serum AGP is weakly associated with dietary intake of several nutrients, including plant protein.

Lower dietary intake of magnesium is associated with more callous–unemotional traits in children

ABSTRACT Background: Although researchers increasingly recognize the role of nutrition in mental health, little research has examined specific micronutrient intake in relation to antisocial behavior and callous–unemotional (CU) traits in children. Vitamin B6 and magnesium are involved in neurochemical processes implicated in modulating antisocial behavior and CU traits. The current study examined dietary intakes of magnesium and vitamin B6 in relation to antisocial behavior and CU traits. Method : We enrolled 11–12 year old children (n = 446, mean age = 11.9 years) participating in the Healthy Brains and Behavior Study. Magnesium and vitamin B6 dietary intake were assessed with three 24-hour dietary recall interviews in children. CU traits and antisocial behavior were assessed by caregiver-reported questionnaires. We controlled for age, sex, race, total energy intake, body mass index, social adversity, ADHD or learning disability diagnosis, and internalizing behavior in all regression analyses. Results: Children with lower magnesium intake had higher levels of CU traits, controlling for covariates (β = −0.18, B = −0.0066, SE = 0.0027, p < 0.05). Vitamin B6 intake was not significantly associated with CU traits (β = 0.061, B = 0.19, SE = 0.20, p > 0.05). Neither magnesium (β = 0.014, B = 0.0020, SE = 0.0093, p > 0.05) nor vitamin B6 (β = 0.025, B = 0.33, SE = 0.70, p > 0.05) were significantly associated with antisocial behavior. Conclusions: Findings suggest that low dietary intake of magnesium may play a role in the etiology of CU traits but not general antisocial behavior. More studies are needed to determine if magnesium supplementation or diets higher in magnesium could improve CU traits in children.

Association of dietary intakes of vitamin B12, vitamin B6, folate, and methionine with the risk of esophageal cancer: the Japan Public Health Center-based (JPHC) prospective study

BackgroundB vitamins and methionine are essential substrates in the one-carbon metabolism pathway involved in DNA synthesis and methylation. They may have essential roles in cancer development. We aimed to evaluate the associations of dietary intakes of vitamin B12, vitamin B6, folate, and methionine with the risk of esophageal cancer (EC) using data from the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study.MethodsWe included 87,053 Japanese individuals who completed a food frequency questionnaire and were followed up from 1995–1998 to 2013 and 2015. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by Cox proportional-hazard regression across quintiles of dietary intakes of B vitamins and methionine.ResultsAfter 1,456,678 person-years of follow-up, 427 EC cases were documented. The multivariable HR (95% CI) of incident EC in the highest versus lowest quintile of dietary intake of vitamin B12 was 1.75 (1.13–2.71; p-trend=0.01). Stratification analysis based on alcohol consumption showed that higher dietary intakes of vitamin B12 and methionine were associated with an increased risk of EC among never-drinkers; HRs (95% CIs) were 2.82 (1.18–6.74; p-trend=0.009; p-interaction=0.18) and 3.45 (1.32–9.06; p-trend=0.003; p-interaction 0.02) for vitamin B12 and methionine, respectively. Meanwhile, there was no association between vitamin B12 and methionine intake with the risk of EC among drinkers. There were no associations between dietary intake of folate or vitamin B6 and the risk of EC.ConclusionDietary intake of vitamin B12 was positively associated with the risk of EC in the Japanese population.

Associations between dietary intake of B vitamins and cardiovascular risk factors in elderly men: A cross‐sectional study

Low intake of B vitamins can lead to hyperhomocysteinaemia, which is reported as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, little is known about this relationship. Therefore, we decided to examine the association between dietary intake of B vitamins and cardiovascular risk factors in elderly men. The present cross-sectional study consisted of 357 elderly men. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated and reliable food frequency questionnaire. All biochemical factors [fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglyceride (TG), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)], waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure (BP) were assessed using standard methods. A significant inverse association was observed between high dietary intake of total B vitamins (ORTotal B vitamins : 0.30; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.86; P=.01) and vitamin B9 (ORvitamin B9 : 0.20; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.52; P=.002) with high WC. Furthermore, an inverse association was observed between high dietary intake of vitamin B6 (ORvitamin B6 : 0.28; 95% CI: 0.08, 1.00; P=.05) and vitamin B9 (ORvitamin B9 : 0.20; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.70; P=.01) with hs-CRP level. In elderly men, a high dietary intake of total B vitamins and vitamin B9 was associated with lower odds of having a high WC. Similarly, high dietary intake of vitamin B6 and B9 was associated with lower odds of having a high hs-CRP level.

Associations of dietary B vitamins intakes with depression in adults.

Background: The impact of the dietary B vitamins intakes on the development of depression has been scarcely investigated. Thus, this study aimed to examine the associations of dietary B vitamins intakes with the risk of depression in American adults. Methods: The data we used in this study were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2014. We used the Logistic regression models to analyze the associations of the dietary intakes of B vitamins with the risk of depression. Results: 17,732 individuals (8,623 males and 9,109 females) were enrolled in the study and they were all 18 or older. Compared to the lowest quartile of dietary intake, the ORs (95%CIs) of the highest quartile were 0.64 (0.50-0.82), 0.78 (0.62-0.97), 0.60 (0.47-0.78), 0.65 (0.50-0.84), and 0.71 (0.54-0.95) for vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, respectively. Compared to the people whose dietary intakes below the RDA in the model 2, those with intake meeting the RDA of vitamin B1 (OR: 0.68; 95%CI: 0.56-0.84), niacin (OR: 0.65; 95%CI: 0.51-0.81), B6 (OR: 0.65; 95%CI: 0.52-0.81), or B12 (OR: 0.65; 95%CI: 0.48-0.88) had a lower risk of depression, severally. We also found a nonlinear negative association between dietary vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 intakes and the risk of depression in the dose-response analyses, severally. Conclusions: Our results suggested that dietary vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 intakes may be inversely associated with the risk of depression.

Potential for elimination of folate and vitamin B12 deficiency in India using vitamin-fortified tea: a preliminary study

IntroductionThe majority of Indian women have a poor dietary folate and vitamin B12 intake resulting in their chronically low vitamin status, which contributes to anaemia and the high incidence of...

Depression and Vegetarians: Association between Dietary Vitamin B6, B12 and Folate Intake and Global and Subcortical Brain Volumes.

Deficiency of vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, mostly in vegetarians, is found to be associated with depression and adverse neurological function. We investigated whether vitamin B6, B12, and folate have an effect on brain structure, especially among depressed people who follow a specific diet. The study sample comprised 9426 participants from the UK Biobank cohort with a mean age of 62.4 years. A generalized linear model controlling for age, sex, body mass index, ethnicity, town send deprivation index, educational qualification, smoking, and alcohol intake was used to test the association between study groups and structural brain volumes. Depression was more prevalent, and intake of vitamin B6 and B12 was lower among vegetarians, while non-vegetarians had a lower intake of folate. Overall, no significant association was observed between vitamin B6, B12, and folate intakes and both global and subcortical brain volumes among participants with depression. However, vitamin B12 intake was positively associated with right pallidum among non-depressed participants, and a significant interaction between vitamin B12 intake and depression status on the right pallidum was observed. Also, a significant interaction between folate intake and depression status on grey matter (GM) volume and left thalamus was observed. Upon diet stratification, folate intake is associated with total brain volume and GM volume among vegetarians with depression. Furthermore, no significant associations were observed for subcortical regions. Our findings suggest that dietary intake of vitamin B6 and B12 might have an effect on brain structure. Vegetarians, particularly those who suffer from depression may benefit from supplementing their diets with vitamins B6, B12, and folate to ensure brain health. Further studies, especially with a larger sample size and longitudinal design, are needed to confirm these findings.

Vitamin B6 Status among Vegetarians: Findings from a Population-Based Survey.

Vitamin B6 from plant foods may have lower bioavailability than vitamin B6 from animal foods, but studies on objectively measured vitamin B6 status among vegetarians compared to non-vegetarians are lacking. Thus, the vitamin B6 status among vegetarians, but also pescatarians, and flexitarians, compared to meat-eaters was assessed in the population-based NHANES study (cycles 2007–2008 and 2009–2010). Data on serum pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP) and 4-pyridoxic acid (4-PA) measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as well as dietary intakes from 24-h recalls were available for 8968 adults aged 20–80 years. Geometric mean (±standard error) PLP concentrations were 58.2 ± 6.0, 52.1 ± 3.7, 49.2 ± 4.6 and 51.0 ± 1.1 nmol/L among vegetarians, pescatarians, flexitarians, and meat-eaters. The 4-PA concentrations were 32.7 ± 4.0, 29.0 ± 2.5, 34.8 ± 5.6 and 33.0 ± 0.7, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in PLP, 4-PA, and their ratio across the groups in multivariable linear regression models. Overall, the use of vitamin B6 supplements was the strongest predictor of the vitamin B6 status, followed by the dietary vitamin B6 intake. Interestingly, several other covariates were significantly associated with vitamin B6 biomarker levels, particularly serum albumin, creatinine and alkaline phosphatase, and should be considered when assessing the vitamin B6 status. In summary, our findings suggest that a vegetarian diet does not pose a risk for vitamin B6 deficiency.

Dietary Micronutrients and Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Cohort Study with 12 Year Follow-Up.

We investigated the association between dietary micronutrient intakes and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Ansan-Ansung study of the Korean Genome and Epidemiologic Study (KoGES), a population-based prospective cohort study. Of 9079 cohort participants with a baseline estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and a urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) <300 mg/g and who were not diagnosed with CKD, we ascertained 1392 new CKD cases over 12 year follow-up periods. The risk of CKD according to dietary micronutrient intakes was presented using hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) in a full multivariable Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for multiple micronutrients and important clinico-epidemiological risk factors. Low dietary intakes of phosphorus (<400 mg/day), vitamin B2 (<0.7 mg/day) and high dietary intake of vitamin B6 (≥1.6 mg/day) and C (≥100 mg/day) were associated with an increased risk of CKD stage 3B and over, compared with the intake at recommended levels (HR = 6.78 [95%CI = 2.18–21.11]; HR = 2.90 [95%CI = 1.01–8.33]; HR = 2.71 [95%CI = 1.26–5.81]; HR = 1.83 [95%CI = 1.00–3.33], respectively). In the restricted population, excluding new CKD cases defined within 2 years, an additional association with low folate levels (<100 µg/day) in higher risk of CKD stage 3B and over was observed (HR = 6.72 [95%CI = 1.40–32.16]). None of the micronutrients showed a significant association with the risk of developing CKD stage 3A. Adequate intake of micronutrients may lower the risk of CKD stage 3B and over, suggesting that dietary guidelines are needed in the general population to prevent CKD.

The association between dietary vitamin B12 and lung cancer risk: findings from a prospective cohort study.

Since previous epidemiological studies reported inconsistent associations between dietary vitamin B12 intake and lung cancer risk, more studies are warranted to clarify this association in different populations. The association between dietary B12 intake and lung cancer risk was examined in the Singapore Chinese Health Study, an ongoing prospective cohort study of 63 257 Singaporean Chinese men and women, 45-74 years of age at enrollment during 1993-1998 and were followed up for incidence of lung cancer for up to 25 years. Dietary vitamin B12 intake was derived from a validated food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazard regression method was used to estimate hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) of lung cancer associated with dietary vitamin B12 intake with adjustment for multiple potential confounders. After a mean follow-up of 17.64 years, 2001 study participants developed lung cancer. High levels of vitamin B12 intake were associated with significantly increased risk of lung cancer (Ptrend = 0.03). Compared with the lowest quintile, hazard ratios (95% CIs) of lung cancer for quintile 2, 3, 4, and 5 of vitamin B12 intake were 1.09 (0.95-1.25), 1.11 (0.96-1.28), 1.11 (0.97-1.29) and 1.18 (1.03-1.35), respectively. This positive association was more apparent in men than in women, in adenocarcinoma patients, or in participants with equal or less than 2 years follow-up than those with longer duration of follow-up. Higher intake of dietary vitamin B12 was associated with increased risk of lung cancer. This highlights the potential harmful effect of vitamin B12 supplementation for lung cancer.

Vitamin B12 may play a preventive role in esophageal precancerous lesions: a case-control study based on markers in blood and 3-day duplicate diet samples.

It is hypothesized that vitamin B12 may prevent tumor initiation during the early stage of carcinogenesis such as esophageal precancerous lesions (EPL), whereas an excessive level may promote tumor progression during the later stages of carcinogenesis. This study aimed to determine the role of vitamin B12 in EPL by detecting vitamin B12-related markers in both blood and diet. This case-control study based on 3-day duplicated diet samples was conducted in a high-risk area of Huai'an, China. A 100 EPL cases and 100 healthy controls matched by gender, age (± 2years) and villages were included. Dietary intake of vitamin B12 and cobalt, plasma cobalt level, the serum levels of vitamin B12 and transcobalamin II (TC II) were quantitatively analyzed. Dietary vitamin B12 intake (p for trend = 0.384) and plasma cobalt level (p for trend = 0.253) were not associated with EPL risk, but high dietary cobalt intake (p for trend = 0.034), increased serum levels of vitamin B12 (p for trend = 0.036) and TC II (p for trend < 0.001) were significantly associated with the reduced EPL risk. However, the significant negative association between dietary cobalt intake, plasma cobalt level or serum vitamin B12 level and EPL was only found in female or male subjects. Excellent transport capability of bio-active vitamin B12 in vivo and adequate levels of vitamin B12 and cobalt may play preventive roles in EPL. Additionally, the association between vitamin B12, cobalt and the risk of EPL may vary in different genders.

Dietary pattern characterisation among subfertile South Asian women and the impact of vitamin B12 intake on frozen embryo transfer outcomes: a cross-sectional study.

STUDY QUESTIONIs there a difference in dietary patterns among subfertile South Asian women undergoing frozen embryo transfer (FET)?SUMMARY ANSWERSignificant regional differences in dietary pattern exist among subfertile South Asian women undergoing FET.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYPreconception consumption of certain food groups or adopting specific dietary patterns, such as the ‘Mediterranean diet’, and its level of adherence have been shown to enhance the odds of achieving a successful pregnancy in women undergoing ART. However, differences in geographic location, individual preference, cultural beliefs and local availability contribute to such dietary choices. There is also a predisposition to a vitamin B12 deficiency in those of South Asian ethnicity and a predominant pattern of vegetarian food intake. There is a paucity of studies analysing the type of dietary pattern followed by South Asian women, their vitamin B12 levels and the potential impact on ART treatment outcomes.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONThis is a cross-sectional study of 159 South Asian women aged 21–37 years, belonging to the Eastern (n = 75) and Southern (n = 84) regions of India plus Bangladesh, and undergoing a FET cycle at a tertiary level infertility clinic between February 2019 and March 2020.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSWomen underwent dietary assessment using ‘24-hour dietary recall’ to capture daily nutrient consumption. A ‘Food Frequency Questionnaire’ listing commonly consumed foods was used to record frequency of intake. The primary outcome was the characterisation of regional dietary patterns in the cohorts using principal component analysis (PCA). Secondary outcomes included association of vitamin B12 intake and serum levels with clinical and ongoing pregnancy.MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCEFour components contributing to overall variance in dietary pattern were identified, namely: meat, poultry and seafood; green leafy vegetables and root tubers; fruits, dairy and sugar; nuts and oilseeds. PCA analysis showed a significantly higher consumption of two components in the East—meat, poultry and fish (P < 0.001); green leafy vegetables and root tubers (P < 0.001). All women reported taking preconception oral folic acid supplementation. The dietary intake of vitamin B12 and serum concentration correlated, showing a good validity of measured dietary intake (r = 0.398; P ≤ 0.001). Compared to the Southern region, participants from the East showed a higher daily median intake of vitamin B12 (1.11 versus 0.28 mcg, respectively; P < 0.001) and a higher serum vitamin B12 levels (441 versus 239 pg/ml, respectively; P < 0.001). Ongoing pregnancy showed no association with dietary vitamin B12 intake (relative risk 0.90; 95% CI, 0.68 to 1.19) or serum vitamin B12 levels (relative risk 0.99; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.33) after adjustments for female age, body mass index (BMI) and geographic differences. Women belonging to different quartiles of serum vitamin B12 concentration had a similar likelihood of ongoing pregnancy.LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONSelf-reported dietary assessment is prone to measurement errors owing to its subjective nature and recall bias. The study was not adequately powered to detect the impact of geographic differences in vitamin B12 intake and serum levels on FET treatment outcomes, the second objective. We adjusted for potential confounders, such as female age and BMI, but it is possible that residual confounders, such as physical activity, stress and use of dietary supplements, may have influenced the results. Extrapolation of the study findings to women undergoing ART in other populations should be made with caution.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSOur study findings suggest important differences in local dietary patterns within the South Asian region. Hence a personalised approach to dietary assessment and intervention when undergoing ART based on population dynamics is warranted. The geographic differences in the vitamin B12 intake or serum levels did not have an impact on the FET outcomes. There is also a need to further investigate the impact of such dietary differences on ART treatment outcomes in a large study population.STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)No grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors was obtained. The authors have nothing to disclose.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERN/A

Nutritional composition and nutritional claims of Canary Islands banana

Objectives: Canary Islands bananas represent the only native cultivar of Musa spp. present in Spanish territory. Since 2013, it has the Protected Geographical Indication label, which confers an additional value to this fruit. Bananas from the Canary Islands have certain organoleptic properties that make them stand out from among other commonly consumed Musa spp. However, to date, no studies have been reported including an extended nutritional composition of this product. Methods: the present work shows the main nutritional components of bananas from the Canary Islands as determined by different analytical techniques (mainly liquid chromatography, spectroscopy, spectrophotometry, and polarimetry) when at their best in terms of ripeness (grade 6). Moreover, potential nutrition claims relating to their composition were proposed using the current legislation. Results: the fruit's remarkable content, edible portion, in vitamin B6 (0.52 g/100 g), dietary fiber (2.22 g/100 g), potassium (419.9 mg/100 g), and vitamin C (12.35 mg/100 g) should be highlighted. Additionally, these components could appear on nutritional labeling as claims, according to current European regulations. Conclusions: a daily consumption of one Canary Islands banana contributes to the recommended dietary intake of vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber. The high nutritional value of this fruit enhances its presence in the Mediterranean eating pattern, being remarkable as a local product with excellent nutritional properties.

Metabolic Groups Related to Blood Vitamin Levels and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Brazilian Children and Adolescents.

Certain B-vitamins and vitamin A may be involved in inflammatory pathways associated with homocysteine and omega-3 fatty acids. The aims of this study were (i) to determine whether different metabolic profiles of B-vitamins and vitamin A in Brazilian children and adolescents were positively or negatively related to homocysteine and omega-3 fatty acids using k-means clustering analysis, (ii) compare nutrient intakes and metabolites between the different metabolic profiles, (iii) evaluate if the statistically significant metabolites found between the metabolic groups, can predict the variation of leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) levels, a biomarker of low-grade inflammation, in the total studied population. This cross-sectional study included 124 children and adolescents, aged 9-13 y old. Dietary intake was assessed by the food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour recall. Biomarkers for vitamins B2, B6, B12, folate and vitamin A were measured in plasma. Omega-3 fatty acids and homocysteine were measured in red blood cells (RBC). Two different metabolic profiles were found. Thirty of these individuals had overall average higher riboflavin, pyridoxal, and vitamin B12 plasma levels (metabolic group 1) compared to 94 individuals (group 2). Group 2 had lower dietary intake of vitamin B2, vitamin A, and vitamin B12 and higher RBC levels of homocysteine. EPA and DHA erythrocyte levels were not different between metabolic groups. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that blood cobalamin, riboflavin, pyridoxal and homocysteine combined, explained 9.0% of LTA4H levels variation in the total studied population. The metabolic group that had low plasma levels of riboflavin, pyridoxal, and cobalamin also had a lower dietary intake of B-vitamin and higher RBC homocysteine. The combined levels of the riboflavin, pyridoxal, cobalamin and homocysteine biomarkers can predict the variation of LTA4H in the total population studied, but it is not clear how this regulation occurs.

Prevalence and Indicators of Vitamin B12 Insufficiency among Young Women of Childbearing Age.

Vitamin B12 insufficiency is a global health issue among women of childbearing age, yet few studies have investigated its prevalence and risk factors among healthy Middle Eastern populations. This cross-sectional study included 346 Saudi women aged 19–30 years and enrolled at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A series of questionnaires were administered to record the study participants’ sociodemographic status, medical history, dietary intake, and physical activity. Participants’ anthropometric data were also recorded and their fasting blood samples were analyzed. The rate of vitamin B12 insufficiency (≤220 pmol/L) was approximately 6% among the study participants. After adjusting for confounding factors, it was observed that the risk factors for vitamin B12 insufficiency included daily sitting time ≥ 7 h, low income (<10,000 Saudi riyal) and increasing age. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin B12 (>2.4 mcg/day) has been shown to confer reasonable protection against vitamin B12 insufficiency. These study findings highlight that a combination of increased physical activity and dietary vitamin B12 intake above the current recommended dietary allowance may help improve the serum vitamin B12 levels of young women of childbearing age, especially those with a low socioeconomic status. Timely detection and protection against vitamin B12 insufficiency in this subpopulation are important to prevent maternal and fetal health risks.

Maternal B-vitamin intake and B-vitamin supplementation during pregnancy in relation to neonatal congenital heart defects: a case-control study with propensity score matching

The effect of dietary folate intake or folic acid (FA) supplementation during pregnancy on neonatal congenital heart defects (CHDs) remains inconclusive. There are limited data about non-folate-B-vitamin intake and the risk of CHDs. Furthermore, few studies have investigated dietary B-vitamin intake and B-vitamin supplement use simultaneously in relation to the risk of CHDs. This study aimed to explore the associations between maternal folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 intake (dietary intake, total intake from diet and supplements); B-vitamin supplement use during pregnancy; and the risk of CHDs using the propensity score matching (PSM) method. We conducted a case-control study and included 760 cases and 1600 controls in Shaanxi Province, China. Diet, supplement use and other information were collected through a questionnaire interview. By using the 1:2 ratio PSM method, 396 cases were matched with 792 controls. Conditional logistic regression was used to investigate the associations between maternal B-vitamin intake and supplement use during pregnancy and CHDs. Higher maternal dietary and total intake of folate and vitamin B12 were associated with reduced risk of CHDs, and the tests for linear trend were significant. Compared with non-users, maternal FA + VB6 + VB12 containing supplement use during pregnancy (OR 0.61, 95%CI 0.40-0.94), FA supplement use during pregnancy (OR 0.70, 95%CI 0.50-0.98) and in the first trimester (OR 0.62, 95%CI 0.46-0.85) were associated with a lower risk of CHDs. The findings of this study suggest that a higher intake of folate and vitamin B12 during pregnancy reduces the risk of CHDs.

Associations between dietary intake of B-vitamins and psychological disorders among Iranian women: a cross-sectional study.

B-vitamins affect brain function through multiple pathways. Given limited evidence on the relationship between dietary intake of these vitamins and psychological disorders, we examined dietary intake of vitamin B6-9-12 in relation to psychological disorders among Iranian women. Cross-sectional study. Dietary intake was assessed using a valid and reliable FFQ. To assess psychological disorders, we used a version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 validated in Iran. Ten public health centres in southern Tehran, Iran. A total of 447 female participants aged 20-50 years. The median values of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folate) and B12 (cobalamin) were 1·30 mg/d, 313·89 µg/d and 3·99 µg/d, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounders, dietary vitamin B6 intake was associated with lower odds of depression (OR: 0·54; 95 % CI: 0·31, 0·95; Ptrend: 0·03). However, there was a positive association between dietary vitamin B12 intake with the odds of depression (OR: 2·05; 95 % CI: 1·17, 3·60; Ptrend: 0·01) and psychological distress (OR: 2·00; 95 % CI: 1·17, 3·41; Ptrend: 0·01). No association was found between vitamin B9 with any psychological disorders. Women with higher dietary intakes of vitamin B6 had lower likelihood of depression. However, women with higher dietary intake of vitamin B12 had higher odds of depression and psychological distress. Future prospective studies in different populations are needed to clarify whether B-vitamin deficiency is a cause or consequence of psychological disorders.

Altered Gut Microbiota and Shift in Bacteroidetes between Young Obese and Normal-Weight Korean Children: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Emerging data suggest that the gut microbiome is related to the pathophysiology of obesity. This study is aimed at characterizing the gut microbiota composition between obese and normal-weight Korean children aged 5-13. We collected fecal samples from 22 obese and 24 normal-weight children and performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq platform. The relative abundance of the phylum Bacteroidetes was lower in the obese group than in the normal-weight group and showed a significant negative correlation with BMI z-score. Linear discriminative analysis (LDA) coupled with effect size measurement (LEfSe) analysis also revealed that the Bacteroidetes population drove the divergence between the groups. There was no difference in alpha diversity, but beta diversity was significantly different between the normal-weight and obese groups. The gut microbial community was linked to BMI z-score; blood biomarkers associated with inflammation and metabolic syndrome; and dietary intakes of niacin, sodium, vitamin B6, and fat. The gut microbiota of the obese group showed more clustering of genera than that of the normal-weight group. Phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) analysis revealed that the functions related to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in the microbiota were more enriched in the normal-weight group than in the obese group. Our data may contribute to the understanding of the gut microbial structure of young Korean children in relation to obesity. These findings suggest that Bacteroidetes may be a potential therapeutic target in pediatric obesity.

Serum Vitamin B12 Levels among Type 2 Diabetic Patients Maintained on Metformin Based Oral Anti-Diabetic Drugs - An Observational Study

The study was aimed to assess the serum vitamin B12 status of diabetic patients managed on metformin mono or combination therapy. A total of 45 patients (25 males; 20 females) diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for less than 3 years were enrolled into the study. Two groups were formed - metformin monotherapy or Gp1 (21 patients, mean age = 42.8 ± 6.82 years) and combination therapy group or Gp2 (24 patients, mean age = 42.6 ± 7.05 years). It was a self-control study wherein their serum vitamin B12 was measured at baseline (initial) and after 6 months (final). Demographic profile was obtained at baseline. Dietary intake of vitamin B12 was assessed by 3 days recall, while clinical manifestations of B12 deficiency and metformin dosages were obtained at initial and final period. Mean dietary intake of vitamin B12 was 1.16 ± 1.01 μg/day at baseline and 1.25 ± 1.15 μg/day at the sixth month, in the two groups. The mean serum B12 levels of group 1 and 2 at baseline were 347.54 ± 146.10, 293.47 ± 90.90 pg/ml, respectively and those at sixth month were 296.24 ± 144.45 and 239.32 ± 89.90 pg/ml respectively. The mean reduction in serum B12 was 51 and 54 pg/ml in Gp1 and Gp2 respectively, during the six-month observation period and the difference was statistically significant (P = Gp-1; 0.001, Gp-2; 0.002). An inverse relation was found between serum B12 and dosage of metformin. The proportion of patients with weakness, tingling/numbness in hands/feet increased markedly in the sixth month in both the groups. Patients on metformin, both alone or in combination, need monitoring and appropriate management of B12 deficiency.

The possible beneficial effects of higher vitamin B6 intake from diet on cognitive function of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

IntroductionGiven some evidence on the effects of vitamin B6 on cognitive function and the high prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD), we conducted the present study to evaluate the correlation between dietary vitamin B6 intake and cognitive function among NMOSD patients. MethodA cross-sectional study was designed on 24 definite NMOSD patients in Sina hospital, Tehran, Iran. A validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire was used to obtain the participants’ routine dietary habits. For the cognitive function assessment, Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS) battery was administered. Vitamin B6 intake per day was calculated, and the correlation between vitamin B6 and the results of MACFIMS subtests was examined. ResultsThe results revealed a positive correlation between dietary vitamin B6 intake and cognitive function in all subtests of MACFIMS. This direct correlation was significant in case of verbal and learning memory according to CVLT-II subtest (p-value:0.02; r:0.45) as well as speed of information processing and working memory according to SDMT subtest (p-value:0.04; r:0.43). The results from linear regression analysis adjusted for carbohydrate intake and disease duration indicated a significant ascending trend for the score of CVLT-II, SDMT, CVLT-II-delayed recall, and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R) subtests through the quartiles of vitamin B6 intakes. ConclusionOur finding indicated a positive correlation between higher dietary intake of vitamin B6 and cognitive function of NMOSD patients. Based on high prevalence of cognitive malfunction in NMOSD patients, these results are promising.