Abstract
Background
Riboflavin, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12 are key players in one-carbon metabolism
as enzymatic cofactors, and deficiency of these nutrients may influence reproductive
outcomes possibly through affecting reproductive hormones.
Objective
The goal was to investigate associations between dietary intakes of riboflavin, vitamin
B-6, and vitamin B-12, and menstrual function among premenopausal women.
Design
This was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study conducted at the University
at Buffalo during 2005 to 2007.
Participants/setting
Participants were 259 healthy, regularly menstruating women (aged 18 to 44 years)
with self-reported menstrual cycles between 21 and 35 days, who were not trying to
conceive, and who had not used hormonal contraception during the past 3 months.
Main outcome measures
Intakes of B vitamins were assessed via 24-hour dietary recalls four times per menstrual
cycle for two cycles. Serum reproductive hormones and plasma homocysteine were measured
eight and three times, respectively, per cycle for two cycles. Anovulatory cycles
were determined by progesterone concentrations ≤5 ng/mL (15.9 nmol/L) and no observed
serum luteinizing hormone peak during the mid or late luteal phase visit.
Statistical analysis
Weighted linear mixed regressions were used to evaluate associations between cycle-averaged
B vitamin intakes and hormones and homocysteine, and generalized linear regressions
for associations with anovulation. Models were adjusted for age, race, body mass index,
physical activity, alternate Mediterranean diet score, intakes of total energy, protein,
fiber, and folate, and percentage of energy intake from fat.
Results
Higher intakes of riboflavin (per 0.1 mg increase in intake) were inversely correlated
with estradiol (−0.87%, 95% CI −1.67 to −0.06) and homocysteine levels (−0.61%, 95%
CI −1.10 to −0.12). Higher vitamin B-6 intakes were suggestive of higher follicle-stimulating
hormone, although the results were not statistically significant (0.63% difference,
95% CI −0.03 to 1.29, per 0.1 mg increase in intake; P=0.06). Small increases in testosterone and decreases in homocysteine were found with
vitamin B-12 intake. No associations were observed between intake of B vitamins and
a risk of sporadic anovulation.
Conclusions
Higher intakes of riboflavin were associated with a small decrease in serum estradiol
among healthy, regularly menstruating women. Higher intakes of riboflavin and vitamin
B-12 were associated with lower plasma homocysteine concentrations. Overall, riboflavin,
vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12 that are one-carbon nutrients do not appear to influence
the ovarian cycle among premenopausal women.
Keywords
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Biography
K. Kim is a research fellow, Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD.
Biography
J. L. Mills is a senior investigator, Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD.
Biography
K. A. Michels is a postdoctoral fellow, Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD.
Biography
E. N. Chaljub is a postbaccalaureate fellow, Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD.
Biography
S. L. Mumford is an investigator, Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD.
Biography
T. C. Plowden is a clinical research fellow, Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research and Program of Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD.
Biography
J. Wactawski-Wende is a professor and dean of the School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 23, 2019
Accepted:
October 15,
2019
Received:
March 5,
2019
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT This work was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health (contract number HHSN275200403394C and HHSN275201100002I, and Task 1 HHSN27500001).
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS K. Kim and S. L. Mumford designed the research; K. Kim conducted statistical analyses; J. Wactawski-Wende collected the data; K. Kim wrote the manuscript with contributions from E. N. Chaljub; J. L. Mills, K. A. Michels, J. Wactawski-Wende, T. C. Plowden, and S.L. Mumford critically reviewed the manuscript; and K. Kim and S. L. Mumford had primary responsibility for final content. All authors reviewed and commented on subsequent drafts of the manuscript.
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© 2020 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
