COMBINATIONS OF LOW THIAMIN, RIBOFLAVIN, VITAMIN-B-6 AND VITAMIN-C INTAKE AMONG DUTCH ADULTS - (DUTCH NUTRITION SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM)

Objective: Clustering of low vitamin intake may entail a greater funct ional and/or health risk than the summation of separate low intakes ma y suggest. Therefore, the prevalence of combined low thiamin, riboflav in, vitamin B-6 and vitamin C intake in various adult sex-age groups i n The Netherlands was estimated.Methods: Nutritional risks were evalua ted by comparing the calculated intakes with the recommendations for e ach vitamin. For this purpose the data of a subsample of 3353 adults o f a nationwide food consumption survey were used, which had been colle cted in 1987-88 within the framework of the Dutch Nutrition Surveillan ce System. Food consumption data were obtained through 2-day dietary r ecords. Respondents were segmented into tertiles based on their vitami n intake per 1000 kcal (4.2 MJ) to adjust for energy intake. Results: As compared with the RDAs, mean overall intake was lowest for vitamin B-6 Based on tertile analyses, the risk for inadequate intake was rela tively high for vitamin C, small for riboflavin and intermediate for t hiamin and vitamin B-6. Low vitamin densities clustered somewhat since the prevalence of combined low intakes for all four vitamins was high er than expected from probability calculations. This interdependence w as mainly the result of a higher consumption of alcoholic beverages an d of other food products with a low vitamin density. Conclusion: In af fluent societies nutritional risk assessment should not be based solel y on single vitamins but should also be oriented at combined low intak e levels.