TY - JOUR
T1 - North-south gradients in plasma concentrations of B-vitamins and other components of one-carbon metabolism in Western Europe
T2 - Results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study
AU - Eussen, Simone J P M
AU - Nilsen, Roy M.
AU - Midttun, Oivind
AU - Hustad, Steinar
AU - Ijssennagger, Noortje
AU - Meyer, Klaus
AU - Fredriksen, Åse
AU - Ulvik, Arve
AU - Ueland, Per M.
AU - Brennan, Paul
AU - Johansson, Mattias
AU - Bueno-De-Mesquita, Bas
AU - Vineis, Paolo
AU - Chuang, Shu Chun
AU - Boutron-Ruault, Marie Christine
AU - Dossus, Laure
AU - Perquier, Florence
AU - Overvad, Kim
AU - Teucher, Birgit
AU - Grote, Verena A.
AU - Trichopoulou, Antonia
AU - Adarakis, George
AU - Plada, Maria
AU - Sieri, Sabina
AU - Tumino, Rosario
AU - De Magistris, Maria Santucci
AU - Ros, Martine M.
AU - Peeters, Petra H M
AU - Redondo, Maria Luisa
AU - Zamora-Ros, Raul
AU - Chirlaque, Maria Dolores
AU - Ardanaz, Eva
AU - Sonestedt, Emily
AU - Ericson, Ulrika
AU - Schneede, Jörn
AU - Van Guelpen, Bethany
AU - Wark, Petra A.
AU - Gallo, Valentina
AU - Norat, Teresa
AU - Riboli, Elio
AU - Vollset, Stein Emil
PY - 2013/7/28
Y1 - 2013/7/28
N2 - Different lifestyle patterns across Europe may influence plasma concentrations of B-vitamins and one-carbon metabolites and their relation to chronic disease. Comparison of published data on one-carbon metabolites in Western European regions is difficult due to differences in sampling procedures and analytical methods between studies. The present study aimed, to compare plasma concentrations of one-carbon metabolites in Western European regions with one laboratory performing all biochemical analyses. We performed the present study in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort among 5446 presumptively healthy individuals. Quantile regression was used to compare sex-specific median concentrations between Northern (Denmark and Sweden), Central (France, Germany, The Netherlands and United Kingdom) and Southern (Greece, Spain and Italy) European regions. The lowest folate concentrations were observed in Northern Europe (men, 10·4Â nmol/l; women, 10·7Â nmol/l) and highest concentrations in Central Europe. Cobalamin concentrations were slightly higher in Northern Europe (men, 330Â pmol/l; women, 352Â pmol/l) compared with Central and Southern Europe, but did not show a clear north-south gradient. Vitamin B2 concentrations were highest in Northern Europe (men, 22·2Â nmol/l; women, 26·0Â nmol/l) and decreased towards Southern Europe (P trend<Â 0·001). Vitamin B6 concentrations were highest in Central Europe in men (77·3Â nmol/l) and highest in the North among women (70·4Â nmol/l), with decreasing concentrations towards Southern Europe in women (P trend<Â 0·001). In men, concentrations of serine, glycine and sarcosine increased from the north to south. In women, sarcosine increased from Northern to Southern Europe. These findings may provide relevant information for the study of regional differences of chronic disease incidence in association with lifestyle.
AB - Different lifestyle patterns across Europe may influence plasma concentrations of B-vitamins and one-carbon metabolites and their relation to chronic disease. Comparison of published data on one-carbon metabolites in Western European regions is difficult due to differences in sampling procedures and analytical methods between studies. The present study aimed, to compare plasma concentrations of one-carbon metabolites in Western European regions with one laboratory performing all biochemical analyses. We performed the present study in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort among 5446 presumptively healthy individuals. Quantile regression was used to compare sex-specific median concentrations between Northern (Denmark and Sweden), Central (France, Germany, The Netherlands and United Kingdom) and Southern (Greece, Spain and Italy) European regions. The lowest folate concentrations were observed in Northern Europe (men, 10·4Â nmol/l; women, 10·7Â nmol/l) and highest concentrations in Central Europe. Cobalamin concentrations were slightly higher in Northern Europe (men, 330Â pmol/l; women, 352Â pmol/l) compared with Central and Southern Europe, but did not show a clear north-south gradient. Vitamin B2 concentrations were highest in Northern Europe (men, 22·2Â nmol/l; women, 26·0Â nmol/l) and decreased towards Southern Europe (P trend<Â 0·001). Vitamin B6 concentrations were highest in Central Europe in men (77·3Â nmol/l) and highest in the North among women (70·4Â nmol/l), with decreasing concentrations towards Southern Europe in women (P trend<Â 0·001). In men, concentrations of serine, glycine and sarcosine increased from the north to south. In women, sarcosine increased from Northern to Southern Europe. These findings may provide relevant information for the study of regional differences of chronic disease incidence in association with lifestyle.
KW - Amino acids
KW - B-vitamins
KW - Europe
KW - One-carbon metabolism
U2 - 10.1017/S0007114512004990
DO - 10.1017/S0007114512004990
M3 - Article
C2 - 23228223
AN - SCOPUS:84879143141
SN - 0007-1145
VL - 110
SP - 363
EP - 374
JO - British Journal of Nutrition
JF - British Journal of Nutrition
IS - 2
ER -
