Are plasma homocysteine concentrations in Brazilian adolescents influenced by the intake of the main food sources of natural folate?

BACKGROUND

Folate, a B vitamin, has been associated with a reduced concentration of plasma homocysteine (phcy), a marker of cardiovascular disease. The contribution of fruits and vegetables (FV) and other natural folate-rich foods to folate intake and folate status in Brazilian adolescents has hardly been determined.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the intake of FV and beans and its association with the concentration of phcy in adolescents.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional population-based study with a complex sample survey, with 198 adolescents who completed two 24-hour dietary recalls, a food frequency questionnaire, and a fasting blood draw. Usual dietary intake estimates were derived applying the Multiple Source Method. Three different generalized linear models with a gamma distribution were developed for each sex to evaluate the relationship between phcy and tertiles of FV intake as well as to evaluate the relationship between phcy and tertiles of FV and bean intake.

RESULTS

No association was found between phcy concentration and FV intake or between phcy and FV and beans. Serum folate and female sex were inversely related to phcy.

CONCLUSION

Phcy was not related to FV or FV and beans; this may be attributable to a low intake of these food groups.