Contribution of food sources to the vitamin B 12 status of South Indian children from a birth cohort recruited in the city of Mysore

Objective There is evidence that subclinical vitamin B 12 (B 12 ) deficiency is common in India. Vegetarianism is prevalent and therefore meat consumption is low. Our objective was to explore the contribution of B 12 -source foods and maternal B 12 status during pregnancy to plasma B 12 concentrations. Design Maternal plasma B 12 concentrations were measured during pregnancy. Children’s dietary intakes and plasma B 12 concentrations were measured at age 9·5 years; B 12 and total energy intakes were calculated using food composition databases. We used linear regression to examine associations between maternal B 12 status and children’s intakes of B 12 and B 12 -source foods, and children’s plasma B 12 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 B 12 deficient ( 12 concentrations (150–221 pmol/l). Children’s total daily B 12 intake and consumption frequencies of meat and fish, and micronutrient-enriched beverages were positively associated with plasma B 12 concentrations ( P =0·006, P =0·01 and P =0·04, respectively, adjusted for socio-economic indicators and maternal B 12 status). Maternal pregnancy plasma B 12 was associated with children’s plasma B 12 concentrations, independent of current B 12 intakes ( P 12 status. Conclusions Meat and fish are important B 12 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 B 12 status in pregnancy may improve Indian children’s status

Animal science · Biology · Cohort · Cohort study · Environmental health · Micronutrient · Population · Pregnancy · Vitamin B12 · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Folate and B Vitamins Research · Medicine · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Endocrinology · Food Science · Internal Medicine

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