Dietary intake of the water-soluble vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12 and C in 10 countries in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To describe the intake of vitamins thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamine) and C (ascorbic acid) and their food sources among 27 centres in 10 countries participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study.

METHODS:

Between 1995 and 2000, 36 034 persons aged between 35 and 74 years were administered a standardized 24-h dietary recall using a computerized interview software programme (EPIC-SOFT). Intakes of the four B vitamins and vitamin C were estimated using the standardized EPIC Nutrient Database (ENDB). Mean intakes were adjusted for age and weighted by season and day of recall.

RESULTS:

Intake of B vitamins did not vary considerably between centres, except in the UK health-conscious cohort, in which substantially higher intakes of thiamine and lower intakes of vitamin B12 were reported compared with other centres. Overall, meat was the most important contributor to the B vitamins in all centres except in the UK health-conscious group. Vitamin C showed a clear geographical gradient, with higher intakes in the southern centres as compared with the northern ones; this was more pronounced in men than in women. Vegetables and fruits were major contributors to vitamin C in all centres, but juices and potatoes were also important sources in the northern centres.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study showed no major differences across centres in the mean intakes of B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, B6, B12), whereas a tendency towards a north-south gradient was observed for vitamin C.

• Authors: A Olsen, J Halkjaer, C H van Gils, B Buijsse, H Verhagen, M Jenab, M C Boutron-Ruault, U Ericson, M C Ocké, P H M Peeters, M Touvier, M Niravong, M Waaseth, G Skeie, K T Khaw, R Travis, P Ferrari, M J Sanchez, A Agudo, K Overvad, J Linseisen, C Weikert, C Sacerdote, A Evangelista, D Zylis, K Tsiotas, J Manjer, B van Guelpen, E Riboli, N Slimani, S Bingham
• Journal: European journal of clinical nutrition (Eur J Clin Nutr) Vol. 63 Suppl 4 Pg. S122-49 (Nov 2009) ISSN: 1476-5640 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19888270 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Vitamins
• Vitamin B Complex
• Ascorbic Acid

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Ascorbic Acid (administration & dosage)
• Diet (statistics & numerical data)
• Diet Records
• Diet Surveys
• Europe
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Vitamin B Complex (administration & dosage)
• Vitamins (administration & dosage)