title: Vitamin B2, vitamin B12and total homocysteine status in children and their associations with dietary intake of B-vitamins from different food groups: the Healthy Growth Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the associations between the dietary intakes of certain B-vitamins from different food sources with the relevant plasma status indices in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative subsample of 600 children aged 9-13 years from the Healthy Growth Study was selected. Dietary intakes of vitamins B2, B12, B6and folate derived from different food sources were estimated. Plasma levels of vitamin B2(or riboflavin), methylmalonic acid (MMA) and total homocysteine (tHcy) were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma concentrations of vitamin B2below 3 μg/L were found in 22.8 % of the children. Children in the lower quartile of dietary vitamin B2intake were found to have the lowest plasma vitamin B2levels compared to children in the upper three quartiles (5.06 ± 7.63 vs. 6.48 ± 7.88, 6.34 ± 7.63 and 6.05 ± 4.94 μg/L respectively; P = 0.003). Regarding vitamin B12children in the lower quartile of dietary intake had higher mean plasma tHcy levels compared to children in the upper two quartiles, respectively (6.00 ± 1.79 vs. 5.41 ± 1.43 and 5.46 ± 1.64 μmol/L; P = 0.012). Positive linear associations were observed between plasma vitamin B2levels and dietary vitamin B2derived from milk and fruits (β = 0.133; P = 0.001 and β = 0.086; P = 0.037). Additionally, nonlinear associations were also observed between plasma vitamin B2levels and vitamin B2derived from red meat, as well as between tHcy levels and vitamins B12and B6derived from milk; vitamins B12, B6and folate derived from cereal products and folate derived from fruits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A considerably high prevalence of poor plasma vitamin B2status was observed in children. The intake of milk, fruits and cereals was associated with more favorable tHcy levels, while the intake of milk and fruits with more favorable plasma B2 levels. However, these findings need to be further confirmed from controlled dietary intervention studies examining the modulation of biomarkers of B-vitamins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, 70 El. Venizelou Avenue, 17671, Kallithea, Athens, Greece. manios@hua.gr.
authors.forename: Yannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Manios
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, 70 El. Venizelou Avenue, 17671, Kallithea, Athens, Greece.|EnviNHealth S.A., Amarysias Artemidos 36, 151 24, Marousi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moschonis
authors.affiliation: FrieslandCampina, P.O. Box 238, 6700 AE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Renske
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dekkers
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, 70 El. Venizelou Avenue, 17671, Kallithea, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mavrogianni
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, 70 El. Venizelou Avenue, 17671, Kallithea, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grammatikaki
authors.affiliation: FrieslandCampina, P.O. Box 238, 6700 AE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van den Heuvel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000072001:Diet, Healthy; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D012256:Riboflavin
keywords: Children; Diet; Homocysteine; Status; Vitamin B12; Vitamin B2