B-vitamins and metabolic syndrome in Mesoamerican children and their adult parents

Objective: To examine the associations between vitamins of the methionine-homocysteine (Hcys) cycle (B-6, B-12 and folate) and Hcys with metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Mesoamerican children and their adult parents. Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study. Exposures were plasma vitamins B-6 and B-12 concentrations, erythrocyte folate and plasma Hcys. In children, the outcome was a continuous metabolic risk score calculated through sex- and age standardisation of waist circumference, the homoeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, mean arterial pressure (MAP), serum HDL-cholesterol and serum TAG. In parents, the outcome was the prevalence of MetS according to the Adult Treatment Panel III Criteria. We estimated mean differences in the metabolic risk score and prevalence ratios of MetS between quartiles of the exposures using multivariable-adjusted linear and Poisson regression models, respectively. Setting: Capital cities of Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica and Chiapas State in Mexico. Participants: In total, 237 school-aged children and 524 parents. Results: Among children, vitamin B-12 was inversely associated with the metabolic risk score (quartiles 4-1 adjusted difference = -0 center dot 13; 95 % CI: -0 center dot 21, -0 center dot 04; P (trend) = 0 center dot 008) through MAP, HDL-cholesterol and TAG. In contrast, folate was positively associated with the metabolic risk score (quartiles 4-1 adjusted difference = 0 center dot 11; 95 % CI: 0 center dot 01, 0 center dot 20; P (trend) = 0 center dot 02). In adults, vitamin B-6 was inversely associated with MetS prevalence, whereas vitamin B-12 and folate were positively related to this outcome. Conclusions: Vitamins of the methionine-Hcys cycle are associated with MetS in different directions. The associations differ between children and adults.

Automated summary

This study examined the associations between vitamins in the methionine-homocysteine cycle and metabolic syndrome, finding that these vitamins are associated with metabolic syndrome in different directions in children and adults.