Mearns Gael Janine, Rush Elaine Carolyn
School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. Email:
Centre for Child Health Research, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2017;26(6):1119-1124. doi: 10.6133/apjcn.112016.06.
A high prevalence of vitamin B-12 (B-12) deficiency among young women of South Asian origin predisposes to significant health risks for these women and their future offspring. Vegetarian or low-meat based dietary practices contribute to B-12 deficiency. This study validated a nutrient-specific, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (B12FFQ), developed to estimate dietary B-12 intake in South Asian women.
The B12FFQ was developed, then tested in 60 apparently healthy South Asian women aged 18-50 years, living in Auckland, New Zealand. Participants recalled the frequency and quantity of vitamin B-12-containing foods consumed in the preceding three months. Pearson's correlations measured the associations between dietary B-12 intake and B-12 biomarkers (serum B-12 and holotranscobalamin [holoTC]). Likelihood of B12 insufficiency was calculated for vegetarian and non-vegetarian dietary practices.
The B12FFQ was a valid measure of dietary B-12 intake - supported by moderate positive associations with serum B-12 (r=0.50, p<0.001, 95% CI [0.28, 0.67]) and holoTC (r=0.55, p<0.001, 95% CI [0.34, 0.71]). A dietary B-12 intake of less than 2.4 µg/day increased the likelihood of serum B-12 (X2 (1)=11.79, p=0.001) or holoTC (X2 (1)=6.33, p=0.012) insufficiency. A dietary B-12 intake of less than the recommended dietary allowance (2.4 µg/day), occurred in 61% (n=20/33) of participants with vegetarian and 22% (n=6/27) with non- vegetarian dietary practices.
The B12FFQ provides a valid estimate of dietary B-12 intake. This easily administered food frequency questionnaire has the potential to identify low dietary B-12 intake as a contributor to B-12 depletion or deficiency.
南亚裔年轻女性中维生素B12（B - 12）缺乏症的高患病率使这些女性及其未来后代面临重大健康风险。素食或低肉饮食方式会导致B - 12缺乏。本研究验证了一种专门针对营养素的半定量食物频率问卷（B12FFQ），该问卷旨在估算南亚女性的膳食B - 12摄入量。
开发了B12FFQ，然后在60名年龄在18至50岁、生活在新西兰奥克兰的明显健康的南亚女性中进行测试。参与者回忆了前三个月食用含维生素B - 12食物的频率和数量。皮尔逊相关性分析衡量了膳食B - 12摄入量与B - 12生物标志物（血清B - 12和全转钴胺素[holoTC]）之间的关联。计算了素食和非素食饮食方式下B12不足的可能性。
B12FFQ是膳食B - 12摄入量的有效测量方法——与血清B - 12（r = 0.50，p < 0.001，95%CI [0.28, 0.67]）和holoTC（r = 0.55，p < 0.001，95%CI [0.34, 0.71]）呈中度正相关，证明了这一点。每日膳食B - 12摄入量低于2.4μg会增加血清B - 12（X2(1)=11.79，p = 0.001）或holoTC（X2(1)=6.33，p = 0.012）不足的可能性。在采用素食的参与者中，61%（n = 20/33）的膳食B - 12摄入量低于推荐膳食摄入量（2.4μg/天），在采用非素食的参与者中，这一比例为22%（n = 6/27）。
B12FFQ能有效估算膳食B - 12摄入量。这种易于管理的食物频率问卷有潜力识别出低膳食B - 12摄入量是导致B - 12消耗或缺乏的一个因素。
