Written by Jessica Patella, ND. In a study of 979 (20 – 29) year old participants, the 14% who were deficient in Vitamin C had increased C-reactive protein (a marker for inflammation), increased waist circumference and body mass index, and increased diastolic blood pressure. 

Scurvy is a condition that results from low levels or lack of vitamin C. Common symptoms of scurvy include general weakness, anemia, gum disease (gingivitis), and skin hemorrhages (2). Most people think of scurvy as a condition that afflicted sailors on long voyages during the 15th century. This was because fruits and vegetables (natural sources of vitamin C) would typically rot long before sailors reached their destination. Research is now showing that 1 in 7 modern-day young adults are deficient in vitamin C, and elevated markers for chronic disease have been observed (1,3).

Vitamin C has many actions in the body. It is needed in the formation of norepinephrine, epinephrine (adrenaline), collagen, and the lean body supporting amino acid carnitine (1). It also acts as an anti-oxidant by decreasing oxidative damage in the body and helps convert cholesterol into bile acids (1). The current Recommended Daily Allowance for Vitamin C is 75 mg/day for non-smoking, non-pregnant females and 90 mg/day for nonsmoking males (1).

Recent research examined the prevalence of serum ascorbic acid (vitamin C) deficiency and its relation to dietary intake of vitamin C in young adults (1). In Canada, 979 participants (692 females, 287 males) aged 20-29 were given a 1-month 196-item food frequency questionnaire to assess their dietary intake over that period. Each of the foods’ vitamin C content was determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture database. Then, 12-hour fasting serum blood levels of ascorbic acid were used to determine levels of vitamin C in the body (1).

Serum concentrations of ascorbic acid were adequate (>28 mmol/L) in 53% of participants, suboptimal (11-28 mmol/L) in 33% of participants and deficient (<11 mmol/L) in 14% of participants (1). The participants deficient in vitamin C had increased levels of C-reactive protein (an inflammation marker) compared to those with adequate intake (2.04 +/- 0.23 vs. 1.03 +/- 0.12 mg/L; P=0.017). Those deficient in vitamin C also had increased waist circumference (75.0 +/- 0.7 vs. 72.8 +/- 0.4 cm; P=0.003), increased body mass index (BMI) (23.2 +/- 0.1 vs. 22.3 +/- 0.2 kg/m2; P=0.007), and increased diastolic blood pressure (70.2 +/1 0.7 vs. 68.2 +/-0.4 mmHg; P=0.004) when compared to those with adequate ascorbic acid concentrations (1).

Another finding among the female participants was those taking oral contraceptives had decreased serum ascorbic acid levels compared to those not taking oral contraceptives (27.4 +/- 1.4 vs. 32.4 +/- 1.0 mmol/L; P=0.004), even though dietary intake of vitamin C was similar (1).

In conclusion, approximately 14% of young adults in Canada are deficient in vitamin C, and this rate of deficiency is similar to levels in the United States (4). The research also showed that markers for chronic disease, such as body mass index, C-reactive protein, and diastolic blood pressure are already present in the young adults deficient in vitamin C, suggesting potential adverse health effects (1). Because the food frequency questionnaire involved recalling dietary intake during the previous month, possible reporting inaccuracies were identified as a study limitation.

Source: Cahill, Leah, Paul N. Corey, and Ahmed El-Sohemy. “Vitamin C deficiency in a population of young Canadian adults.” American journal of epidemiology 170.4 (2009): 464-471.

© John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Posted August 16, 2010. 

References:

  1. Cahill, L et al. Vitamin C Deficiency in a Population of Young Canadian Adults.  2009;170: 464-471
  2. Scurvy – posted on the Medline Plus website.
  3. Panel on Dietary Antioxidants and Related Compounds, Subcommittees on Upper Reference Levels of Nutrients and Interpretation and Uses of Dietary Reference Intakes, and the Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes.  Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Beta-Carotene and Other Carotenoids.  Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2000.
  4. Hamp JS, et al.  Vitamin C deficiency and depletion in the United States: The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988 to 1994.  Am J Public Health. 2004; 94(5):870-875.