Background: Folate and cobalamin are responsible for healthy growth. However, the B-vitamin and homocysteine status of adolescents is not well known. The aim was to assess the status of folate, cobalamin, and homocysteine in healthy Spanish adolescents. Methods: Serum cobalamin, serum folate, homocysteine, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C>T variant, BMI, smoking habits, and Tanner stage were determined according to gender in 165 adolescents (84 females, 81 males; 13–18.5 years) using the Student’s t test, Mann-Whitney U test and χ2 test, respectively. Interactions between socioeconomic status, age group, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism, BMI, smoking habits, Tanner stage, and vitamin status, respectively, were examined by ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis H test (p < 0.05). Results: Boys had markedly higher homocysteine (males 8.92 (5.51–22.94) µmol/l; females 7.91 (5.09–13.86) µmol/l), whereas girls showed higher serum cobalamin concentrations (males 540.00 (268.00–946.47) pmol/l; females 594.82 (280.63–1,559.64) pmol/l). Data are shown as medians and the 2.5th to 97.5th percentiles in parentheses. Adolescents with the homozygous variant of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase displayed significantly higher homocysteine and lower serum folate: normal 5.73 (3.09–10.73) ng/ml serum folate, 7.57 (4.94–12.94) µmol/l homocysteine; homozygous 4.10 (2.75–7.88) ng/ml serum folate, 10.83 (7.00–22.82) µmol/l homocysteine. Conclusion: The present study provides data on the folate, cobalamin, and homocysteine status of Spanish adolescents. To assure a better assessment, revision of references for adolescents is still needed.

Keywords:
B Vitamins, Folate, Cobalamin, Homocysteine, Adolescents, Spanish
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel
2008
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.