title: Dietary intake of vitamin B12 and folic acid is associated with lower blood pressure in Japanese preschool children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An elevated plasma homocysteine level is an independent risk factor for high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, and its level is regulated by three vitamins; vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid. Until now, the association between the intake of these vitamins and blood pressure has been examined only in adult populations. We purposed to examine the association between dietary intake of these three vitamins and blood pressure of young children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study at Japanese preschools in 2006. Blood pressure was measured among 418 children aged 3-6 years. Diets including vitamins were assessed by a 3-day dietary record. We compared the blood pressure levels among the four groups defined according to quartile of energy-adjusted vitamin intake by using analysis of covariance after controlling for age, sex, and body mass index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean systolic blood pressure was 6.6 mm Hg lower and the mean diastolic blood pressure was 5.7 mm Hg lower in the highest quartile than in the lowest quartile of vitamin B12 intake (P for trend was <0.001 and 0.006, respectively). The mean systolic blood pressure was 4.1 mm Hg lower in the highest quartile than in the lowest quartile of folic acid intake (P for trend = 0.004). Vitamin B6 intake was not significantly associated with blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that high intakes of folic acid and vitamin B12 are associated with lower levels of blood pressure among preschool children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. o2111705@edu.gifu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yuya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tamai
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Kozue
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sahashi
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Chisato
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nagata
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12