title: Folate and vitamin B12 concentrations are associated with plasma DHA and EPA fatty acids in European adolescents: the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study.
abstract: This study aimed to examine the association between vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12 biomarkers and plasma fatty acids in European adolescents. A subsample from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence study with valid data on B-vitamins and fatty acid blood parameters, and all the other covariates used in the analyses such as BMI, Diet Quality Index, education of the mother and physical activity assessed by a questionnaire, was selected resulting in 674 cases (43 % males). B-vitamin biomarkers were measured by chromatography and immunoassay and fatty acids by enzymatic analyses. Linear mixed models elucidated the association between B-vitamins and fatty acid blood parameters (changes in fatty acid profiles according to change in 10 units of vitamin B biomarkers). DHA, EPA) and n-3 fatty acids showed positive associations with B-vitamin biomarkers, mainly with those corresponding to folate and vitamin B12. Contrarily, negative associations were found with n-6:n-3 ratio, trans-fatty acids and oleic:stearic ratio. With total homocysteine (tHcy), all the associations found with these parameters were opposite (for instance, an increase of 10 nmol/l in red blood cell folate or holotranscobalamin in females produces an increase of 15·85 µmol/l of EPA (P value <0·01), whereas an increase of 10 nmol/l of tHcy in males produces a decrease of 2·06 µmol/l of DHA (P value <0·05). Positive associations between B-vitamins and specific fatty acids might suggest underlying mechanisms between B-vitamins and CVD and it is worth the attention of public health policies.
authors.affiliation: 1Growth Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group,Universidad de Zaragoza, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS), 50009 Zaragoza,Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2219-3646
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iglesia
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Public Health, Ghent University,University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, entrance 42 (building K3),4th floor, B-9000 Ghent,Belgium.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huybrechts
authors.affiliation: 5ImFINE Research Group,Department of Health and Human Performance,Universidad Politécnica de Madrid,C/ Martín Fierro, 7, 28040 Madrid,Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Gross
authors.affiliation: 1Growth Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group,Universidad de Zaragoza, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS), 50009 Zaragoza,Spain.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mouratidou
authors.affiliation: 7Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health,Universidad de Zaragoza,50009 Zaragoza,Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santabárbara
authors.affiliation: 4International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC),150 Cours Albert Thomas,69372 Lyon Cedex 08,France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chajès
authors.affiliation: 1Growth Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group,Universidad de Zaragoza, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS), 50009 Zaragoza,Spain.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: González-Gil
authors.affiliation: 4International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC),150 Cours Albert Thomas,69372 Lyon Cedex 08,France.
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: 1Growth Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group,Universidad de Zaragoza, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS), 50009 Zaragoza,Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bel-Serrat
authors.affiliation: 8Department of Physiology,School of Medicine,University of Granada,Avenida de Madrid 11,18012 Granada,Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuenca-García
authors.affiliation: 8Department of Physiology,School of Medicine,University of Granada,Avenida de Madrid 11,18012 Granada,Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.affiliation: 10Research Institute of Child Nutrition Dortmund,Pediatric University Clinic,Ruhr-University Bochum,Heinstück 11, D-44225 Dortmund,Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kersting
authors.affiliation: 11Department of Pediatrics,Division of Clinical Nutrition and Prevention,Medical University of Vienna,1090 Vienna,Austria.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Widhalm
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Public Health, Ghent University,University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, entrance 42 (building K3),4th floor, B-9000 Ghent,Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Henauw
authors.affiliation: 12Department of Public Health Sciences,Division of Social Medicine,Karolinska Institutet,Norrbacka,level 3,17176 Stockholm,Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sjöström
authors.affiliation: 15Inserm U995, Faculté de Médecine,Université Lille 2,F-59045 Lille Cedex,France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gottrand
authors.affiliation: 16Department of Paediatrics,University of Pécs,Szigeti str 12, H-7624 Pécs,Hungary.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.affiliation: 17Department of Nutrition and Dietetics,Harokopio University,E. Venizelou 70, 17671 Kallithea, reece, Kallithea-Athens,Greece.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Manios
authors.affiliation: 18School of Medicine,University of Crete,GR-71033 Crete,Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kafatos
authors.affiliation: 19CREA - Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Research Center for Food and Nutrition,Via Ardeatina 546 - 00178 Roma,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: 20Department of Nutrition and Food Science,University of Bonn,D-53115 Bonn,Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stehle
authors.affiliation: 21Immunonutrition Research Group,Department of Metabolism and Nutrition,Institute of Food Science,Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN),Spanish National Research Council (CSIC),E-28040 Madrid,Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcos
authors.affiliation: 22Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia,Universidad Complutense de Madrid,28040 Madrid,Spain.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Muniz
authors.affiliation: 1Growth Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group,Universidad de Zaragoza, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS), 50009 Zaragoza,Spain.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moreno
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D005060:Europe; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12
keywords:  DQI Diet Quality Index;  FA fatty acids;  HELENA Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence;  PC phosphatidylcholine;  PF plasma folate;  PL phospholipids;  PLP pyridoxal 5'-phosphate;  SAH S-adenosyl-
                       l
                    -homocysteine;  tHcy homocysteine; Adolescents; B-vitamins; Europe; Fatty acids