One-half of Korean adults studied had marginal vitamin B12 status assessed by plasma vitamin B12

Abstract

Information is limited on the current vitamin B₁₂ status of South Koreans, including the results of biochemical indices. The objective of this study was to assess vitamin B₁₂ status with vitamin B₁₂ intake, major food sources, and plasma vitamin B₁₂ concentration in Korean adults. We hypothesized that vitamin B₁₂ intake and status would be different between sex and age groups. Three consecutive 24-hour recalls and fasting blood samples were obtained from healthy 20- to 64-year-old adults (N=141). The dietary vitamin B₁₂ intake of the men (10.77±6.11 μg/d) was significantly higher than that of the women (7.93±5.01 μg/d). The mean dietary vitamin B₁₂ intake was significantly lower in the subjects aged 20-29 years than in the subjects aged 50-64 years. Only 2.1% of the subjects consumed less vitamin B₁₂ than the estimated average requirement for Koreans. The top 4 major food sources of vitamin B₁₂ were seafood, which provided 35.36% of the dietary vitamin B₁₂ intake. There was no significant difference in plasma vitamin B₁₂ concentration between sex and among age groups. Approximately 17% of total subjects had a plasma vitamin B₁₂ concentration <125 pmol/L, indicating vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, and 36.2% had marginal vitamin B₁₂ status (125 to <250 pmol/L). The reported vitamin B₁₂ intake was affected by both sex and age. However, plasma vitamin B₁₂ concentration did not differ between sex and among age groups. One-half of the subjects had marginal vitamin B₁₂ status using plasma vitamin B₁₂.

Keywords: Korean adults; Major food sources; Plasma vitamin B(12) concentration; Vitamin B(12) intake; Vitamin B(12) status.