STUDY OF PLASMA VITAMIN B_(12 )CONCENTRATION IN CHINESE ADULTS / 营养学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To describe the distribution of plasma vitamin B12 concentration in Chinese adults aged 35 to 64 years.Methods:Cross-sectional analysis was empolyed.Plasma vitamin B12 concentration was measured in 2 459 adults sampled from the representative urban and rural areas in the South and North of China.Results:Adjusted plasma vitamin B12 concentration was significantly higher (260 pmol/L) in the Southerners than in the Northerners (189 pmol/L).There were different patterns of seasonal changes of plasma vitamin B12 concentration between South and North.Plasma vitamin B12 concenration was higher during the summer and autumn (269 pmol/L)than during the winter and spring (252 pmol/L) in the South.However,the concentration was lower during the summer and autumn (177 pmol/L) than during the winter and spring (200 pmol/L) in the North.Women tended to have higher plasma vitamin B12 concentration than men.There were 5.5 percent of the participants whose plasma vitamin B12 concentration was lower than 110 mol/L.Conclusion:Significant regional and gender differences in plasma vitamin B12 concentration were observed in Chinese adults.The seasonal changes between the South and North were different.