Impact of dietary intake and supplements in blood concentrations of B6, B12

• Grant number: 12/13016-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2012
• End date: August 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutritional Analysis of Population
• Principal Investigator: Dirce Maria Lobo Marchioni
• Grantee: Natália Koren Simoni
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The B vitamins, especially B6 and B12, are associated with the reduction risk of developing some cancers and coronary heart diseases. Those vitamins, together with folate, act in homocysteine metabolism, reducing plasma concentrations of the homocysteine and their auto-oxidized fractions, factor related to vascular damage to the matrix. Several age groups of the population, as well as individuals living in São Paulo, have inadequate consumption of B6 and B12, while in adolescents the prevalence of inadequacy is high. Studies of nutritional supplements have received attention in the literature, because they are sources that aim to address nutritional needs in addition to those acquired by food, and also because the increased use of supplements in various parts of the world. The relationship between dietary intake and intake of supplements has been little explored, though a study group revealed a high intake of supplements by the Brazilian population. In this sense, the study aims to evaluate the influence of diet and supplements on blood levels of B6 and B12 in individuals living in São Paulo. (AU)