Prevalence of vitamin deficiencies in an apparently healthy urban adult population: Assessed by subclinical status and dietary intakes

•Subclinical levels and dietary intakes of vitamins in apparently healthy adults were assessed.•The prevalence of deficiency of vitamins B2 (50%), B6 (46%), B12 (46%), folate (32%), and vitamin D (29%) was strikingly high.•The mean probability of adequacy of these vitamins was noticeably low (28%).•Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcys) was widely prevalent (52%) in the study participants.•Logistic regression analysis found men and those with a deficiency of folate and total and active B12 to be at higher risk for HHcys. Studies in children and pregnant women consistently showed pandemic proportions of micronutrient deficiencies in the Indian subcontinent. However, vitamin deficiencies in apparently healthy adults are seldom recognized, hence the aim of this exploratory study was to assess their subclinical vitamin status and dietary intakes. In all, 270 apparently healthy urban adults 30 to 70 y of age, from Hyderabad city, India participated in this study. Blood levels of vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, total and active B12, D, and folate) and homocysteine were assessed. Anthropometric parameters were measured; dietary intake was obtained by food frequency questionnaire, and probability of adequacy (PA) was calculated by the estimated average requirement. Among the study population, the overall prevalence of deficiency of vitamin B2 was strikingly high (50%) followed by the vitamins B6 (46%), active B12 (46%), total B12 (37%), folate (32%), D (29%), B1 (11%), and A (6%). Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcys) was widely prevalent (52%) in the study participants. In case of dietary intakes, PA was lowest for vitamin B12 (4%) and folate (9%) followed by vitamins A (22%), B2 (33%), B6 (30%), and B1 (59%). The mean PA of these vitamins was noticeably low (28%). The unadjusted logistic regression analysis found men and those with a deficiency of folate and total and active B12 to be at higher risk for HHcys. In the adjusted model, the risk for active B12 deficiency almost doubled. The study demonstrated a high prevalence of multiple subclinical vitamin deficiencies, dietary inadequacies, and HHcys, which are possible risk factors for disease burden among apparently healthy adults.