North-South Differences in some Indices of Vitamin B<sub>6</sub> Nutritional Status in Older British People
1999
Pentieva, K. D. | Bates, J. Ch | Prentice, A. | Cole, T. J.
The National Diet and Nutrition Survey, nationally representative for the British population aged 65 years and over, has revealed a north-south geographical gradient, with a decline from south to north of vitamin B<sub>6</sub> status indices. The present study further explores the possible explanatory factors (dietary intake of vitamin B<sub>6</sub> and riboflavin, alcohol consumption, smoking habits and some other lifestyle determinants) on the difference of vitamin B<sub>6</sub> indices – plasma concentrations of pyridoxal phosphate (pPLP) and pyridoxic acid (pPA), between older people living in the north (Scotland, North of England) and the south (Southern England, Wales and Midlands). The results showed that older people living in the northern half of Britain are at greater risk of poor vitamin B<sub>6</sub> status, mainly as a result of low intakes of this vitamin, than the people living in the southern half of the country. Riboflavin intake, alcohol consumption, smoking and socio-economic status also correlated with the north-south gradient of pPLP and pPA. Other potential determinants such as use of vitamin B<sub>6</sub> supplements, medicines probably affecting vitamin B<sub>6</sub> metabolism, were not independent correlates of the north-south gradient in vitamin B<sub>6</sub> status indices. This may have important implications for disease-risk geographical gradients in the UK.
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