Association Between Dietary Intake of One-Carbon Metabolism-Related Nutrients and Fluorosis in Guizhou, China

• Published in: Frontiers in nutrition (Lausanne) 2021-09, Vol.8, p.700726-700726
• Main Authors: Chen, Ting, Tao, Na, Yang, Sheng, Cao, Dafang, Zhao, Xun, Wang, Donghong, Liu, Jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: betaine; choline; dietary; fluorosis; methionine; Nutrition; one-carbon metabolism
• ISSN: 2296-861X; 2296-861X
• DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.700726

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the associations between dietary one-carbon metabolism-related nutrients (betaine, choline, methionine, folate, vitamin B 6 , and vitamin B 12 ) and fluorosis among the Chinese population in an area known for coal-burning fluorosis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, with 653 fluorosis patients and 241 non-fluorosis participants. Dietary intake was acquired using a validated semi-quantitative 75-item food frequency questionnaire. The risk associations were assessed by unconditional logistical regression. Results: We observed a significant inverse association between dietary betaine, total choline, methionine, folate, vitamin B 6 , and choline species and fluorosis. The adjusted OR (95% CI ) in the highest quartile of consumption compared with the lowest were 0.59 (0.37–0.94) ( P -trend = 0.010) for betaine intake, 0.45 (0.28–0.73) ( P- trend = 0.001) for total choline intake, 0.45 (0.28–0.72) ( P -trend < 0.001) for methionine intake, 0.39 (0.24–0.63) ( P -trend < 0.001) for folate intake, 0.38 (0.24–0.62) ( P -trend < 0.001) for vitamin B 6 intake, and 0.46 (0.28–0.75) ( P -trend = 0.001) for total choline plus betaine intake. Dietary intakes of choline-containing compounds, phosphatidylcholine, free choline, glycerophosphocholine, and phosphocholine were also inversely associated with lower fluorosis (all P -trend < 0.05). No significant associations were observed between dietary vitamin B 12 or sphingomyelin and fluorosis. Conclusion: The present study suggested that the higher dietary intakes of specific one-carbon metabolism-related nutrients, such as betaine, choline, methionine, folate, and vitamin B 6 , are associated with lower fluorosis prevalence.