title: Associations of Milk Consumption and Vitamin B₂ and Β12Derived from Milk with Fitness, Anthropometric and Biochemical Indices in Children. The Healthy Growth Study.
abstract: The benefits of dairy consumption seem to extend beyond its significant contribution to ensuring nutrient intake adequacy as indicated by the favourable associations with several health outcomes reported by different studies. The aims of the present study were to examine the associations of milk consumption with fitness, anthropometric and biochemical indices in children and further explore whether the observed associations are attributed to vitamins B₂ and B12derived from milk. A representative subsample of 600 children aged 9-13 years participating in the Healthy Growth Study was examined. Data were collected on children's dietary intake, using 24 h recalls, as well as on fitness, anthropometric and biochemical indices. Regression analyses were performed for investigating the research hypothesis, adjusting for potential confounders and for B-vitamin status indices (i.e., plasma riboflavin, methylmalonic acid and total homocysteine concentrations), dietary calcium intake and plasma zinc concentrations that could possibly act as effect modifiers. Milk consumption was positively associated with the number of stages performed in the endurance run test (ERT) (β = 0.10;p= 0.017) and negatively with body mass index (BMI) (β = -0.10;p= 0.014), after adjusting for several potential confounders and effect modifiers. Dietary intakes of vitamin B₂ and B12derived from milk were also positively associated with the number of ERT stages (β = 0.10;p= 0.015 and β = 0.10;p= 0.014 respectively). In conclusion, higher intake of milk as well as vitamin B₂ and B12derived from milk were independently associated with higher cardiorespiratory fitness in Greek preadolescents. The key roles of these B-vitamins in substrate oxidation, energy production, haemoglobin synthesis and erythropoiesis could provide a basis for interpreting these associations. However, further research is needed to confirm this potential interpretation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, 70 El Venizelou Avenue, Kallithea, 17671 Athens, Greece. gmoschi@hua.gr.|EnviNHealth S.A., Platonos 34, Moschato, 18345 Athens, Greece. gmoschi@hua.gr.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moschonis
authors.affiliation: FrieslandCampina, Stationsplein 4, Post Box 1551, 3800 BN Amersfoort, The Netherlands. ellen.vandenheuvel@frieslandcampina.com.
authors.forename: Ellen G H M
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: van den Heuvel
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, 70 El Venizelou Avenue, Kallithea, 17671 Athens, Greece. cmavrog@hua.gr.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mavrogianni
authors.affiliation: FrieslandCampina, Stationsplein 4, Post Box 1551, 3800 BN Amersfoort, The Netherlands. Cecile.Singh-Povel@frieslandcampina.com.
authors.forename: Cécile M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Singh-Povel
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece. mleon@med.upatras.gr.
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leotsinidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, 70 El Venizelou Avenue, Kallithea, 17671 Athens, Greece. manios@hua.gr.
authors.forename: Yannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Manios
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000886:Anthropometry; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D006710:Homocysteine; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid; D015032:Zinc; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D012256:Riboflavin
keywords: children; fitness; homocysteine; inflammation; milk; serum lipids; vitamin B12; vitamin B2; zinc