AUTHOR=Chen Ting , Tao Na , Yang Sheng , Cao Dafang , Zhao Xun , Wang Donghong , Liu Jun 

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

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.700726

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2021.700726

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> This study aimed to investigate the associations between dietary one-carbon metabolism-related nutrients (betaine, choline, methionine, folate, vitamin B<sub>6</sub>, and vitamin B<sub>12</sub>) and fluorosis among the Chinese population in an area known for coal-burning fluorosis.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> 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.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> We observed a significant inverse association between dietary betaine, total choline, methionine, folate, vitamin B<sub>6</sub>, and choline species and fluorosis. The adjusted <italic>OR</italic> (95% <italic>CI</italic>) in the highest quartile of consumption compared with the lowest were 0.59 (0.37–0.94) (<italic>P</italic>-trend = 0.010) for betaine intake, 0.45 (0.28–0.73) (<italic>P-</italic>trend = 0.001) for total choline intake, 0.45 (0.28–0.72) (<italic>P</italic>-trend &lt; 0.001) for methionine intake, 0.39 (0.24–0.63) (<italic>P</italic>-trend &lt; 0.001) for folate intake, 0.38 (0.24–0.62) (<italic>P</italic>-trend &lt; 0.001) for vitamin B<sub>6</sub> intake, and 0.46 (0.28–0.75) (<italic>P</italic>-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 <italic>P</italic>-trend &lt; 0.05). No significant associations were observed between dietary vitamin B<sub>12</sub> or sphingomyelin and fluorosis.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> 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<sub>6</sub>, are associated with lower fluorosis prevalence.</p>