U.O.C. Laboratorio Analisi, Fondazione di Ricerca e Cura "Giovanni Paolo II", Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2013 May;23(5):473-80. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2011.10.001. Epub 2011 Dec 30.
The relevance of folate, other B-vitamins and homocysteine (Hcy) for the occurrence or prevention of several diseases has induced growing interest. Unfortunately, little evidence is available regarding B-vitamin concentrations in Italy. This study evaluated in a region of middle-southern Italy, folate, vitamin B12 and Hcy concentrations and the prevalence of their ideal blood levels. The main determinants of B-vitamins and Hcy were also considered.
Male and female blood donors (n=240), aged 18-66 years and living in Molise region (Italy), were enrolled in the study. They completed a brief questionnaire concerning fruit and vegetables intake, physical activity and smoking; serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate and serum vitamin B12 were measured by an immunoassay on an automated analyzer. Total Hcy was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Geometric means of serum folate, RBC folate and serum vitamin B12 were 10.8nmoll(-1), 426.0nmoll(-1) and 245.0pmoll(-1), respectively. Only 22.5%, 24.2% and 16.3% of blood donors showed an adequate level of serum folate, RBC folate or serum vitamin B12 respectively. When a cut-off of RBC folate ≥906nmoll(-1) was used no women of childbearing age had adequate levels. A geometric mean of 14.0μmoll(-1) was found for total Hcy, with an ideal concentration in 12.1% of subjects. Folate concentration was higher in women and non-smokers and in subjects with higher consumption of fruit and vegetable.
This study shows a low-moderate B-vitamins status in middle-southern Italy, associated with an inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. A public health strategy should be undertaken to encourage a B-vitamin-rich diet with the addition of vitamin supplements or vitamin fortified foods in population subgroups with special needs.
叶酸、其他 B 族维生素和同型半胱氨酸（Hcy）与多种疾病的发生或预防有关，这引起了人们越来越多的兴趣。遗憾的是，关于意大利 B 族维生素浓度的证据很少。本研究评估了意大利中南部地区的叶酸、维生素 B12 和 Hcy 浓度以及其理想血液水平的流行情况。还考虑了 B 族维生素和 Hcy 的主要决定因素。
研究纳入了 240 名年龄在 18-66 岁之间、居住在意大利莫利塞地区的男性和女性献血者。他们填写了一份关于水果和蔬菜摄入量、身体活动和吸烟的简短问卷；血清和红细胞（RBC）叶酸以及血清维生素 B12 通过免疫分析在自动分析仪上进行测量。总 Hcy 通过高效液相色谱法（HPLC）测量。血清叶酸、RBC 叶酸和血清维生素 B12 的几何均数分别为 10.8nmol/L、426.0nmol/L 和 245.0pmol/L。只有 22.5%、24.2%和 16.3%的献血者分别显示出血清叶酸、RBC 叶酸或血清维生素 B12 的适当水平。当使用 RBC 叶酸≥906nmol/L 作为截断值时，没有生育年龄的女性具有适当的水平。总 Hcy 的几何平均值为 14.0μmol/L，12.1%的受试者浓度理想。叶酸浓度在女性和不吸烟者中较高，在食用更多水果和蔬菜的人群中也较高。
本研究显示意大利中南部地区存在低-中度 B 族维生素状态，与水果和蔬菜摄入不足有关。应采取公共卫生策略，鼓励富含 B 族维生素的饮食，并在有特殊需求的人群中添加维生素补充剂或维生素强化食品。
