Abstract
The dietary vitamin $B_6$ intake of 185 Korean children aged 7-12 years (y), who showed no health problems, in the Seoul area and its sources were estimated using a modified Korean vitamin $B_6$ database. The age and sex of each subject was classified according to the classifications in the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). Dietary vitamin $B_6$ intake and food sources were estimated using the three-day recall method with the help of a trained interviewer. Food portion sizes were estimated by using standard household measures and published average portion sizes. The average daily vitamin $B_6$ intake was 1.69$\pm$0.50 mg/d in children aged 7-9 y, 1.86$\pm$0.44 mg/d in male children aged 10-12 y and 1.77$\pm$0.62 mg/d in female children aged 10-12 y. Less than 5% of the subjects consumed less than the Korean RDA of vitamin $B_6$. The average ratio of vitamin $B_6$intake to daily protein intake was 0.028$\pm$0.006 mg/g in children aged 7-9 y, 0.028$\pm$0.004 mg/g in male children aged 10-12 y and 0.029$\pm$0.007 mg/g in female children aged 10-12 y. The intake of vitamin $B_6$ was significantly (p<.01) positively correlated to the intake of all other nutrients. Foods from animal and plant sources provided 37% and 73% respectively, of total vitamin $B_6$. Major dietary sources of vitamin $B_6$ in children in the Seoul area were rice, soybean sprouts, pork, beef, cereal, kimchi, milk, onions, and potatoes. As for major dietary sources of vitamin $B_6$, the top 20 foods provided nearly 73-75% of the total vitamin $B_6$ consumed by Korean children.