Dietary intakes and vitamin status: complex assessment in young (reproductive-aged) females with normal body weight
Authors:   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation, Varaeva Yu.R. , Pavlovskaya E.V. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation, Egorova V.V. ,   Research Institute of Healthcare Organization and Medical Management, Moscow, Russian Federation, Brumberg A.A. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation,   Research Institute of Healthcare Organization and Medical Management, Moscow, Russian Federation, Fedotova N.M. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation, Korotkova T.N. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation, Dzhatto M.K. ,   LLC "Klinika UGN", Moscow, Russian Federation, Starodubova A.V. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation,   N.I.Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: September 2024

Objective. To assess the vitamin status and vitamins deficiencies rates in young women (18–45 years old) with normal body weight, the Central Federal District of the Russian Federation habitats. Patients and methods. The study included 66 young women (average age 29.18 ± 7.36 years) with normal body weight (average BMI 21.88 ± 2.58 kg/m2), living in Moscow city, Moscow, Yaroslavl and Tula regions. After 4 weeks of wash-out from medications, fortified and specialized food products that are a source of vitamins and minerals, serum levels of vitamins B1, B2, B6, B9, B12, C, A, D3, E, K2 were assessed. Based on the assessment of vitamin status, participants were divided into groups of normal vitamin status, deficiency of one and deficiency of two vitamins. A comparative analysis of 72-hour food diaries was performed for diet assessment. Results. Mean serum vitamin D3 levels were below reference values (27.88 ± 12.77 ng/ml), mean/median levels of other vitamins were within normal limits. 62% of women had deficiency/insufficiency of vitamin D, 21% of vitamin B6, and 17% vitamins B1 and K2 equally. 21.2% of participants had a normal vitamin status, 36.4% had a deficiency of one and two vitamins eqully, 4 participants (6.1%) had a deficiency of three vitamins. Individuals with normal vitamin status had a significantly lower BMI. An analysis of macro- and micronutrients diet intake showed a significantly higher consumption of vitamin A in the group with normal vitamin status; and the main food groups intake analysis revealed a relisably lower consumption of eggs in the group of one vitamin deficiency and a higher consumption of fish and seafood in the group with normal vitamin status. Average daily consumption of fish and seafood served as a predictor of normal vitamin status according to Kendall's Tau-b correlation analysis (ρ = 0.391, p = 0.005). Conclusion. The study results performed a high incidence of vitamin deficiency (primarily D3, B1, B6 and K2), including deficiencies of two and three vitamins, among young women with normal body weight. Individuals with normal vitamin status have a lower BMI and consume more fish and seafood. The results of the study confirm the need for active prevention of vitamin deficiency among the population, updating and introducing educational programs on the principles of healthy nutrition. Key words: dietary assessment, nutritional status, vitamin, vitamin deficiency, healthy adults, females