Associations of Milk Consumption and Vitamin B2 and Β12 Derived from Milk with Fitness, Anthropometric and Biochemical Indices in Children. The Healthy Growth Study

Abstract

The benefits of dairy consumption seem to extend beyond its significant contribution to ensuring nutrient intake adequacy as indicated by the favourable associations with several health outcomes reported by different studies. The aims of the present study were to examine the associations of milk consumption with fitness, anthropometric and biochemical indices in children and further explore whether the observed associations are attributed to vitamins B2 and B12 derived from milk. A representative subsample of 600 children aged 9–13 years participating in the Healthy Growth Study was examined. Data were collected on children’s dietary intake, using 24 h recalls, as well as on fitness, anthropometric and biochemical indices. Regression analyses were performed for investigating the research hypothesis, adjusting for potential confounders and for B-vitamin status indices (i.e., plasma riboflavin, methylmalonic acid and total homocysteine concentrations), dietary calcium intake and plasma zinc concentrations that could possibly act as effect modifiers. Milk consumption was positively associated with the number of stages performed in the endurance run test (ERT) (β = 0.10; p = 0.017) and negatively with body mass index (BMI) (β = −0.10; p = 0.014), after adjusting for several potential confounders and effect modifiers. Dietary intakes of vitamin B2 and B12 derived from milk were also positively associated with the number of ERT stages (β = 0.10; p = 0.015 and β = 0.10; p = 0.014 respectively). In conclusion, higher intake of milk as well as vitamin B2 and B12 derived from milk were independently associated with higher cardiorespiratory fitness in Greek preadolescents. The key roles of these B-vitamins in substrate oxidation, energy production, haemoglobin synthesis and erythropoiesis could provide a basis for interpreting these associations. However, further research is needed to confirm this potential interpretation.

The Associations between Dairy Product Consumption and Biomarkers of Inflammation, Adipocytokines, and Oxidative Stress in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Of the 4145 children who were eligible to participate, 2656 were enrolled in the study (64.1% response) after the parents signed consent on behalf of the children. Detailed methodology has been published elsewhere [ 16 ]. Of these 2656 children, a subsample of 1338 children who had full data on both the independent and dependent variable were used for the analysis.…”

What Do We Know about Diet and Markers of Cardiovascular Health in Children: A Review

“…Three studies have examined the associations between dairy consumption and cardiorespiratory fitness [58,59,60]. A significant positive association has been reported between dairy consumption and cardiorespiratory fitness in 9–13 year-old Greeks, 12–17 year-old Europeans, and 14–19 year-old Brazilians [58,59,60]. Dairy products are rich sources of essential amino acids, vitamins (e.g., B2 and B12), and minerals (e.g., zinc and calcium) [61,62].…”

“…In addition, four studies have determined the association between individual foods and muscular strength [60,75,76,77]. No significant associations were found between daily milk consumption (β = −0.02 kg, p = 0.782) [60], frequency of fruit and vegetable intake (β = 0.012 kg, p = 0.155) [75], and amount of daily fruit and vegetable consumption [76] with handgrip strength in 9–13 year-old Greeks, 6–11 year-old Europeans, and 5–18 year-old Americans, respectively. Only a study by Neville et al [77] found that Irish girls (12 and 15 years) in the lowest tertile of fruit and vegetable consumption had significantly lower handgrip strength than those in the highest tertile of fruit and vegetable consumption (β = −0.75 kg, 95% CI = −1.35, −0.15 kg).…”

Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in whole milk powderand estimated daily intake for a population of children

“…Milk and dairy products, in particular, have received special interest since they are widely consumed by children, as they are rich in several nutrients that are essential for growth and maintenance of a healthy life (MOSCHONIS et al, 2016) and also provide immunological protection (LARSSON et al, 2015;LAMARCHE et al, 2016).…”