Fruit, vegetable and vitamin C intakes and plasma vitamin C: cross‐sectional associations with insulin resistance and glycaemia in 9–10 year‐old children

Abstract

AimTo examine whether low circulating vitamin C concentrations and low fruit and vegetable intakes were associated with insulin resistance and other Type 2 diabetes risk markers in childhood.MethodsWe conducted a cross‐sectional, school‐based study in 2025 UK children aged 9–10 years, predominantly of white European, South‐Asian and black African origin. A 24‐h dietary recall was used to assess fruit, vegetable and vitamin C intakes. Height, weight and fat mass were measured and a fasting blood sample collected to measure plasma vitamin C concentrations and Type 2 diabetes risk markers.ResultsIn analyses adjusting for confounding variables (including socio‐economic status), a one interquartile range higher plasma vitamin C concentration (30.9 μmol/l) was associated with a 9.6% (95% CI 6.5, 12.6%) lower homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance value, 0.8% (95% CI 0.4, 1.2%) lower fasting glucose, 4.5% (95% CI 3.2, 5.9%) lower urate and 2.2% (95% CI 0.9, 3.4%) higher HDL cholesterol. HbA1c concentration was 0.6% (95% CI 0.2, 1.0%) higher. Dietary fruit, vegetable and total vitamin C intakes were not associated with any Type 2 diabetes risk markers. Lower plasma vitamin C concentrations in South‐Asian and black African‐Caribbean children could partly explain their higher insulin resistance.ConclusionsLower plasma vitamin C concentrations are associated with insulin resistance and could partly explain ethnic differences in insulin resistance. Experimental studies are needed to establish whether increasing plasma vitamin C can help prevent Type 2 diabetes at an early stage.

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“…The nutrients in fruits and vegetables are critical for proper growth and development (1)(2)(3) , cognitive function (4) and chronic disease prevention (5)(6)(7)(8)(9) . Unfortunately, children living in the USA consume fewer servings than recommended, particularly those living in low-income households (10)(11)(12) .…”

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