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Contribution of food sources to the vitamin B12 status of South Indian children from a birth cohort recruited in the city of Mysore

Contribution of food sources to the vitamin B12 status of South Indian children from a birth cohort recruited in the city of Mysore
Contribution of food sources to the vitamin B12 status of South Indian children from a birth cohort recruited in the city of Mysore
Objective There is evidence that subclinical vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency is common in India. Vegetarianism is prevalent and therefore meat consumption is low. Our objective was to explore the contribution of B12-source foods and maternal B12 status during pregnancy to plasma B12 concentrations.

Design Maternal plasma B12 concentrations were measured during pregnancy. Children’s dietary intakes and plasma B12 concentrations were measured at age 9·5 years; B12 and total energy intakes were calculated using food composition databases. We used linear regression to examine associations between maternal B12 status and children’s intakes of B12 and B12-source foods, and children’s plasma B12 concentrations.

Setting South Indian city of Mysore and surrounding rural areas.

Subjects Children from the Mysore Parthenon Birth Cohort (n 512, 47·1 % male).

Results Three per cent of children were B12 deficient (<150 pmol/l). A further 14 % had ‘marginal’ B12 concentrations (150–221 pmol/l). Children’s total daily B12 intake and consumption frequencies of meat and fish, and micronutrient-enriched beverages were positively associated with plasma B12 concentrations (P=0·006, P=0·01 and P=0·04, respectively, adjusted for socio-economic indicators and maternal B12 status). Maternal pregnancy plasma B12 was associated with children’s plasma B12 concentrations, independent of current B12 intakes (P<0·001). Milk and curd (yoghurt) intakes were unrelated to B12 status.

Conclusions Meat and fish are important B12 sources in this population. Micronutrient-enriched beverages appear to be important sources in our cohort, but their high sugar content necessitates care in their recommendation. Improving maternal B12 status in pregnancy may improve Indian children’s status.
India, vitamin B12, child, source
1368-9800
596-609
Christian, A.M.
1c2f08f6-5e86-4d38-876f-2ffab22ec0f1
Krishnaveni, G.V.
e9cc468a-8262-4dde-8eba-e047c68a3dce
Kehoe, S.H.
534e5729-632b-4b4f-8401-164d8c20aa26
Veena, S.R.
2acd1a9f-ce06-4cd2-bbdb-8f0057308e0e
Khanum, R.
09dcd404-f267-4a70-a7da-6b5eec6b797e
Marley-Zagar, E.
ec089855-19d1-4eb3-a3f1-5aace908b69e
Edwards, P.
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Margetts, B.M.
d415f4a1-d572-4ebc-be25-f54886cb4788
Fall, C.H.
7171a105-34f5-4131-89d7-1aa639893b18
Christian, A.M.
1c2f08f6-5e86-4d38-876f-2ffab22ec0f1
Krishnaveni, G.V.
e9cc468a-8262-4dde-8eba-e047c68a3dce
Kehoe, S.H.
534e5729-632b-4b4f-8401-164d8c20aa26
Veena, S.R.
2acd1a9f-ce06-4cd2-bbdb-8f0057308e0e
Khanum, R.
09dcd404-f267-4a70-a7da-6b5eec6b797e
Marley-Zagar, E.
ec089855-19d1-4eb3-a3f1-5aace908b69e
Edwards, P.
540d3999-d963-4aaf-9cbd-540b1f270b39
Margetts, B.M.
d415f4a1-d572-4ebc-be25-f54886cb4788
Fall, C.H.
7171a105-34f5-4131-89d7-1aa639893b18

Christian, A.M., Krishnaveni, G.V., Kehoe, S.H., Veena, S.R., Khanum, R., Marley-Zagar, E., Edwards, P., Margetts, B.M. and Fall, C.H. (2015) Contribution of food sources to the vitamin B12 status of South Indian children from a birth cohort recruited in the city of Mysore. Public Health Nutrition, 18 (4), 596-609. (doi:10.1017/S1368980014000974). (PMID:24866058)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objective There is evidence that subclinical vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency is common in India. Vegetarianism is prevalent and therefore meat consumption is low. Our objective was to explore the contribution of B12-source foods and maternal B12 status during pregnancy to plasma B12 concentrations.

Design Maternal plasma B12 concentrations were measured during pregnancy. Children’s dietary intakes and plasma B12 concentrations were measured at age 9·5 years; B12 and total energy intakes were calculated using food composition databases. We used linear regression to examine associations between maternal B12 status and children’s intakes of B12 and B12-source foods, and children’s plasma B12 concentrations.

Setting South Indian city of Mysore and surrounding rural areas.

Subjects Children from the Mysore Parthenon Birth Cohort (n 512, 47·1 % male).

Results Three per cent of children were B12 deficient (<150 pmol/l). A further 14 % had ‘marginal’ B12 concentrations (150–221 pmol/l). Children’s total daily B12 intake and consumption frequencies of meat and fish, and micronutrient-enriched beverages were positively associated with plasma B12 concentrations (P=0·006, P=0·01 and P=0·04, respectively, adjusted for socio-economic indicators and maternal B12 status). Maternal pregnancy plasma B12 was associated with children’s plasma B12 concentrations, independent of current B12 intakes (P<0·001). Milk and curd (yoghurt) intakes were unrelated to B12 status.

Conclusions Meat and fish are important B12 sources in this population. Micronutrient-enriched beverages appear to be important sources in our cohort, but their high sugar content necessitates care in their recommendation. Improving maternal B12 status in pregnancy may improve Indian children’s status.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 23 April 2014
e-pub ahead of print date: 27 May 2014
Published date: March 2015
Keywords: India, vitamin B12, child, source
Organisations: Human Development & Health

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 375586
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/375586
ISSN: 1368-9800
PURE UUID: 682953a0-e149-46ab-949a-5899132b456a
ORCID for S.H. Kehoe: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2584-7999
ORCID for C.H. Fall: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4402-5552

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 02 Apr 2015 13:48
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:02

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Contributors

Author: A.M. Christian
Author: G.V. Krishnaveni
Author: S.H. Kehoe ORCID iD
Author: S.R. Veena
Author: R. Khanum
Author: E. Marley-Zagar
Author: P. Edwards
Author: B.M. Margetts
Author: C.H. Fall ORCID iD

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