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

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

Automated summary

The study found that higher dietary intake of specific one-carbon metabolism-related nutrients, such as betaine, choline, methionine, folate, and vitamin B-6, is associated with lower prevalence of fluorosis.