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Intakes of folate and vitamin B12 from total diets and from specific food groups and biomarkers of status in the very old

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2016

N Mendonça
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
JC Mathers
Affiliation:
Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
AJ Adamson
Affiliation:
Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
C Martin-Ruiz
Affiliation:
Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
CJ Seal
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
C Jagger
Affiliation:
Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
TR Hill
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Abstract

Type
Abstract
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2016 

Very old adults are at increased risk of folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies due to reduced food intake and gastrointestinal absorption. This study aimed to determine whether higher intakes of folate and vitamin B12 from total diets and top contributing food groups were associated with reduced risk of inadequate vitamin status among 85 year-olds from the Newcastle 85+ Study. Two 24hr multiple pass recalls were conducted by a research nurse at the participants’ usual residence and dietary intake estimated with the McCance and Widdowson's 6th edition food composition tables(Reference Mendonça, Hill and Granic1). Red blood cell folate (RBC folate) and plasma B12 were analysed by chemiluminescent immunoassays(Reference Martin-Ruiz, Jagger and Kingston2). Complete dietary intake data and B-vitamin biomarkers were available for 732 participants. Binary logistic models were used to estimate the risk of inadequate RBC folate (only 3·4 % of individuals were <340 nmol/L, therefore a threshold of <600 nmol/L, was used) and plasma B12 (<148 pmol/L) concentrations according to quartiles of folate and vitamin B12 intake from total diets and from specific food groups.

All models were adjusted for gender, dietary energy intake, MTHFR (folate) or FUT2 (vitamin B12) genotype, intake of folate or vitamin B12 from the other top contributing food groups (except total diets), folic acid/vitamin B12 containing supplement users and H2 antagonists, biguanides and proton pump inhibitors users in the vitamin B12 model. *p<0·05 **p < 0·01 ***p < 0·001.

Individuals with higher folate intakes from total diets, cereals and cereal products and vegetables but not fruit and fruit juice were less likely to have low RBC folate concentrations. Those with higher vitamin B12 intakes from whole diets and meat and meat products but not from fish and dairy were also at lower risk of deficient plasma B12 concentrations.

References

1.Mendonça, N, Hill, TR, Granic, A, et al. (2016) Macronutrient intake and food sources in the very old: Analysis of the Newcastle 85+ Study. Br J Nutr. In Press.Google Scholar
2.Martin-Ruiz, C, Jagger, C, Kingston, A, et al. (2011) Assessment of a large panel of candidate biomarkers of ageing in the Newcastle 85+ study. Mech Ageing Dev 132(10): 496502.Google Scholar