Low plasma vitamin B-12 in Kenyan school children is highly prevalent and improved by supplemental animal source foods.

Full Abstract

The high prevalence of vitamin B-12 deficiency in many regions of the world is becoming recognized as a widespread public health problem, but it is not known to what extent this deficiency results from a low intake of the vitamin or from its malabsorption from food. In rural Kenya, where a previous study identified a high prevalence of inadequate vitamin B-12 intakes, this study examined whether plasma vitamin B-12 concentrations were associated with dietary sources of the vitamin at baseline and could be increased by supplementation with animal source foods (ASF). The 4 experimental groups in 503 school children were:
1) control (no food provided); 2) githeri (a maize and bean staple with added oil); 3) githeri + meat (githeri + minced beef); or 4) githeri + milk (githeri + milk). Feedings were isocaloric. Dietary data were collected at baseline, and biochemical data at baseline and after 1 and 2 y of feeding. Baseline plasma vitamin B-12 concentration was 193.6 +/- 105.3 pmol/L and correlated with % energy from ASF (r = 0.308, P < 0.001). The odds ratio for low plasma vitamin B-12 (<148 pmol/L), which occurred in 40% of children, was 6.28 [95%

CI:
3.07-12.82] for the lowest vs. highest ASF intake tertile (P < 0.001). Feeding ASF (meat or milk) greatly reduced the prevalence of low plasma vitamin B-12 (P < 0.001). The high prevalence of low plasma vitamin B-12 concentrations in these children is predicted by a low intake of ASF, and supplemental ASF improves vitamin B-12 status.

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Author information

Author/s: McLean, Erin D (ED); Allen, Lindsay H (LH); Neumann, Charlotte G (CG); Peerson, Janet M (JM); Siekmann, Jonathan H (JH); Murphy, Suzanne P (SP); Bwibo, Nimrod O (NO); Demment, Montague W (MW);

Affiliation: Department of Nutritional Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: The Journal of nutrition (J Nutr), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Mar; vol 137 (issue 3) : pp 676-82

Dates: Created 2007/02/21; Completed 2007/04/17;

PMID: 17311959, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Infant
Kenya - epidemiology
Male
Rural Population
Vitamin B 12 - administration & dosage; blood
Vitamin B 12 Deficiency - blood; diet therapy; drug therapy; epidemiology

Associated Chemicals: Vitamin B 12 (68-19-9)

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