Phylloquinone intake in British 4-year-olds fell from 1950 to the 1990s
What it found
In nationally representative samples of British 4-year-olds, dietary phylloquinone intake was significantly higher in 1950 than in the 1990s.
The main food sources also shifted, with vegetables contributing less and fats and oils more.
What they found
Studies in people
Intake fell over time
Geometric mean daily phylloquinone intake was 39 micrograms in 1950 and 24 micrograms in the 1990s. The difference remained after accounting for sex, region and family social class.
Sources shifted
Vegetables were the main source in both surveys, but contributed 60% in 1950 and 48% in the 1990s. Fats and oils contributed more in the 1990s, while leafy green vegetables contributed less.
Social class and sex
In 1950, children from manual social class families had lower daily intake than those from non-manual families, but this was found in Scotland only. In the 1990s, intake did not differ significantly by social class or sex, except for lower phylloquinone density in manual class families.
Low intakes
In the 1990s, 27% of children had intakes below 1 microgram per kilogram body weight per day, compared with 21% in 1950. This difference was due to girls, with 34% of girls in the 1990s below that level compared with 18% in 1950.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that phylloquinone intakes of children have decreased significantly since 1950.
How it was done
The authors wanted to compare phylloquinone intake and food sources in 4-year-old British children between 1950 and the 1990s, and to see how intake varied by sex, social class and region. They note that vitamin K is needed for bone and cardiovascular health, and that early childhood diet may affect later disease risk.
They used dietary records from 4599 children born in March 1946 and surveyed in 1950, and from 307 children surveyed in 1992/93 and 1997. Phylloquinone intake was estimated from the foods eaten, and the contribution of different food groups was compared.
What it can’t tell you
- The study measured dietary intake from records, not blood levels or health outcomes, so it cannot show whether the lower intakes affected the children's bone or heart health.
- The two surveys used different methods to record diet (24-hour recall in 1950 and weighed records in the 1990s), which may affect the comparison.
- The study cannot say whether phylloquinone from different foods is absorbed equally well.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, UK
The paper
- Title
- Intake and sources of phylloquinone (vitamin K(1)) in 4-year-old British children: comparison between 1950 and the 1990s
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Prynne CJ, Thane CW, Prentice A, Wadsworth ME (2005). Intake and sources of phylloquinone (vitamin K(1)) in 4-year-old British children: comparison between 1950 and the 1990s. Public health nutrition. doi:10.1079/phn2004674Free full textPubMed 15877910DOI
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