Combinations of low thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and vitamin C intake among Dutch adults. (Dutch Nutrition Surveillance System).
OBJECTIVE
Clustering of low vitamin intake may entail a greater functional and/or health risk than the summation of separate low intakes may suggest. Therefore, the prevalence of combined low thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and vitamin C intake in various adult sex-age groups in The Netherlands was estimated.


METHODS
Nutritional risks were evaluated by comparing the calculated intakes with the recommendations for each vitamin. For this purpose the data of a subsample of 3353 adults of a nationwide food consumption survey were used, which had been collected in 1987-88 within the framework of the Dutch Nutrition Surveillance System. Food consumption data were obtained through 2-day dietary records. Respondents were segmented into tertiles based on their vitamin intake per 1000 kcal (4.2 MJ) to adjust for energy intake.


RESULTS
As compared with the RDAs, mean overall intake was lowest for vitamin B6. Based on tertile analyses, the risk for inadequate intake was relatively high for vitamin C, small for riboflavin and intermediate for thiamin and vitamin B6. Low vitamin densities clustered somewhat since the prevalence of combined low intakes for all four vitamins was higher than expected from probability calculations. This interdependence was mainly the result of a higher consumption of alcoholic beverages and of other food products with a low vitamin density.


CONCLUSIONS
In affluent societies nutritional risk assessment should not be based solely on single vitamins but should also be oriented at combined low intake levels.
Department of Human Nutrition, TNO Toxicology and Nutrition Institute, The Netherlands.
E J
EJ
van der Beek
M R
MR
Löwik
K F
KF
Hulshof
C
C
Kistemaker
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013831:Thiamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D011736:Pyridoxine; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D012256:Riboflavin; D013831:Thiamine