Plasma micronutrients are associated with dietary intake and environmental tobacco smoke exposure in a paediatric population

Abstract

Background: While adult populations have been well described in terms of nutritional status, such as the concentration of nutrient biomarkers, little work has been done in healthy paediatric populations. Objective: The primary objective of this analysis was to explore the determinants of plasma micronutrients in a group of healthy infants and children. Design: The Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young (DAISY) has enrolled 1433 newborns at increased risk for type 1 diabetes in Denver, Colorado. A representative random sample of 257 children from the DAISY cohort between the ages of 9 months and 8 years with a total of 815 clinic visits over time was used in this analysis. Annual dietary intake was assessed over time with Willett food-frequency questionnaires that were validated in this population. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) was assessed using a validated survey. Plasma samples were tested for vitamins, carotenoids and total lipids. Predictors of plasma micronutrients were evaluated using mixed models for longitudinal data, while adjusting for age, human leukocyte antigen genotype, type 1 diabetes family history and other potential confounders and covariates. Results: Increased micronutrient intake was associated with increased levels of their respective plasma nutrient, with the exception of g-tocopherol. Independent of dietary intake, levels of a-and b-carotene and b-cryptoxanthin were significantly lower, and g-tocopherol was significantly higher, in children who were exposed to ETS. Conclusion: Dietary intake predicts plasma micronutrient levels. Exposure to ETS potentially could have negative health effects in this young population.

Passive Smoke Exposure and Circulating Carotenoids in the CARDIA Study

“…This study confirms and extends the work of others: even after adjustment for dietary factors, passive smoke exposure was associated cross-sectionally with lower ␤ -carotene [5,6,8] and other provitamin A serum carotenoids [6,8] . Similar to past research on both the effects of active and passive smoking on circulating carotenoids, we saw no effect on the non-provitamin A carotenoid lutein/zeaxanthin [27] , although lycopene actually increased with increasing passive smoke exposure.…”

“…It is known that compared to non-smokers, individuals who smoke have reduced concentrations of certain serum carotenoids, which are antioxidant micronutrients [2][3][4] . There is evidence that non-smokers who are exposed to passive smoke also have lower levels of selected serum carotenoids [5][6][7][8][9] , although a small study of workplace smoke exposure suggested the opposite [10] . However, individuals who are exposed to greater amounts of passive smoke consume generally poorer diets and have a lower mean dietary carotene intake compared to those individuals who are exposed to less passive smoke [9,[11][12][13][14][15] .…”

“…However, individuals who are exposed to greater amounts of passive smoke consume generally poorer diets and have a lower mean dietary carotene intake compared to those individuals who are exposed to less passive smoke [9,[11][12][13][14][15] . Despite this potential confounding by diet, two cross-sectional studies [5,6] and one longitudinal study [6] that controlled for diet have reported an association between passive smoking and reduced carotenoid levels suggesting that passive smoke itself affects carotenoid levels.…”

“…However, several of the past studies on passive smoking and serum carotenoid connection have crudely defined passive smoke exposure as living with a smoker [6,8,9] . In the previous studies that took passive smoke outside of the home into account, dose was not quantified [5,7,10] .…”

Regular breakfast consumption is associated with higher blood vitamin status in adolescents: the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study

“…Further, including low-fat dairy foods, wholegrain breads and cereals, and citrus fruits, other fruits and juices for breakfast could possibly have a positive influence on body mass (45) . Moreover, in order to assess an individual's nutritional status, vitamin, food and nutrient intake data should be complemented with biochemical data (46) , owing to the fact that micronutrient intake data are not always associated with blood concentrations (47) . Our results showed an association of regular breakfast consumption with greater vitamin D (cholecalciferol), vitamin B 9 (total folate) and vitamin B 6 (pyridoxine) intakes and blood vitamin C, vitamin D (25(OH)D), vitamin B 12 (CBL, holo-TC), folate (PF, RBC folate) and tHcy concentrations, after controlling for centre, age, BMI, supplement use, SES and family structure.…”