Serum vitamin C and the prevalence of vitamin C deficiency in the United States: 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) may be the most important water-soluble antioxidant in human plasma. In the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-1994), approximately 13% of the US population was vitamin C deficient (serum concentrations <11.4 micromol/L).

OBJECTIVE:

The aim was to determine the most current distribution of serum vitamin C concentrations in the United States and the prevalence of deficiency in selected subgroups.

DESIGN:

Serum concentrations of total vitamin C were measured in 7277 noninstitutionalized civilians aged > or =6 y during the cross-sectional, nationally representative NHANES 2003-2004. The prevalence of deficiency was compared with results from NHANES III.

RESULTS:

The overall age-adjusted mean from the square-root transformed (SM) concentration was 51.4 micromol/L (95% CI: 48.4, 54.6). The highest concentrations were found in children and older persons. Within each race-ethnic group, women had higher concentrations than did men (P < 0.05). Mean concentrations of adult smokers were one-third lower than those of nonsmokers (SM: 35.2 compared with 50.7 micromol/L and 38.6 compared with 58.0 micromol/L in men and women, respectively). The overall prevalence (+/-SE) of age-adjusted vitamin C deficiency was 7.1 +/- 0.9%. Mean vitamin C concentrations increased (P < 0.05) and the prevalence of vitamin C deficiency decreased (P < 0.01) with increasing socioeconomic status. Recent vitamin C supplement use or adequate dietary intake decreased the risk of vitamin C deficiency (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

In NHANES 2003-2004, vitamin C status improved, and the prevalence of vitamin C deficiency was significantly lower than that during NHANES III, but smokers and low-income persons were among those at increased risk of deficiency.

• Authors: Rosemary L Schleicher, Margaret D Carroll, Earl S Ford, David A Lacher
• Journal: The American journal of clinical nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr) Vol. 90 Issue 5 Pg. 1252-63 (Nov 2009) ISSN: 1938-3207 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19675106 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Ascorbic Acid

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Ascorbic Acid (blood)
• Ascorbic Acid Deficiency (epidemiology)
• Body Mass Index
• Child
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Diet
• Dietary Supplements
• Ethnicity (statistics & numerical data)
• Female
• Humans
• Interviews as Topic
• Male
• Nutrition Surveys
• Poverty (statistics & numerical data)
• Probability
• Smoking (adverse effects)
• Socioeconomic Factors
• United States (epidemiology)
• Young Adult