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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #209605
Title: Do dietary patterns in older men influence change in homocysteine through folate fortification? The Normative Aging Study

Author
item KNOOPS, KIM - WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY
item SPIRO, AVRON - BOSTON UNIVERSITY
item DE GROOT, LISETTE - WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY
item KROMHOUT, DAAN - WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY
item VAN STAVEREN, WIJA - WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY
item Tucker, Katherine

Submitted to: Public Health Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/3/2008
Publication Date: 1/1/2009
Citation: Knoops, K.T., Spiro, A., De Groot, L., Kromhout, D., Van Staveren, W.A., Tucker, K. 2009. Do dietary patterns in older men influence change in homocysteine through folate fortification? The Normative Aging Study. Public Health Nutrition. DOI: 10.1017/S1368980008004321.

Interpretive Summary: In 1996, the Food and Drug Administration issued a regulation requiring all enriched grain products to be fortified with folic acid to reduce the risk of neural-tube defects, but it remains unclear how this fortification has affected folate and homocysteine status in subgroups of the population with differing dietary patterns. We aimed to describe the difference in B-vitamin intake; and in plasma B vitamin and homocysteine concentrations before and after folic acid fortification, in relation to dietary patterns, in men participating in the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. We identified three dietary patterns: a prudent pattern, with relatively high intake of fruit, vegetables, low-fat milk and breakfast cereals; an unhealthy pattern, with high intake of baked products, sweets and added fats; and a low fruit and vegetable but relatively high alcohol intake pattern. Following fortification, dietary intake and plasma concentrations of folate increased significantly among all dietary patterns. Homocysteine tended to decrease in non-supplement users and in subjects in the high alcohol, low fruit and vegetable dietary pattern. We concluded that after fortification with folic acid, folate intake and plasma folate concentration increased significantly in all dietary patterns. There was a trend toward greatest homocysteine lowering in the high alcohol and low fruit and vegetable group.

Technical Abstract: In 1996, the Food and Drug Administration issued a regulation requiring all enriched grain products to be fortified with folic acid to reduce the risk of neural-tube defects, but it remains unclear how this fortification has affected folate and homocysteine status in subgroups of the population with differing dietary patterns. We aimed to describe the difference in B-vitamin intake; and in plasma B vitamin and homocysteine concentrations before and after folic acid fortification, in relation to dietary patterns. Homocysteine, folate, vitamin B-12 and pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP) were assessed before and after fortification in men participating in the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. We derived dietary patterns from cluster analysis. Three dietary patterns were identified by cluster analysis: a prudent pattern, with relatively high intake of fruit, vegetables, low-fat milk and breakfast cereals; an unhealthy pattern, with high intake of baked products, sweets and added fats; and a low fruit and vegetable but relatively high alcohol intake pattern. Dietary intake and plasma concentrations of folate increased significantly (P<0.05) among all dietary patterns. Homocysteine tended to decrease in non-supplement users and in subjects in the high alcohol, low fruit and vegetable dietary pattern (both, P=0.08) We concluded that after fortification with folic acid, folate intake and plasma folate concentration increased significantly in all dietary patterns. There was a trend toward greatest homocysteine lowering in the high alcohol and low fruit and vegetable group.