Global Vitamin C Status and Prevalence of Deficiency: A Cause for Concern?

Rowe, Sam; Carr, Anitra C.

doi:10.3390/nu12072008

Cited by 162 publications

(179 citation statements)

References 84 publications

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“…Although other studies (in India and Brazil) have shown lower ascorbate concentrations in people with Parkinson’s disease compared to healthy controls [ 16 , 17 ], based on the low control values and the less than ideal analytical methodology used, it is possible that these low values were due to artifactual ex vivo oxidation [ 27 ]. Alternatively, individuals in low-middle income countries tend to have lower vitamin C status, and thus may be more prone to developing hypovitaminosis C during various disease states [ 32 , 33 ]. Of note, the Parkinson’s disease group in our study had a higher prevalence of hypovitaminosis C, where the subclinical symptoms of vitamin C deficiency start to become apparent [ 34 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive Association of Ascorbate and Inverse Association of Urate with Cognitive Function in People with Parkinson’s Disease

et al. 2020

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Oxidative stress is thought to contribute to the aetiology of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Ascorbate (vitamin C) is a potent antioxidant and is associated with neurological and cognitive function. In this study we assessed the ascorbate status of a cohort of people with Parkinson’s disease (n = 215), aged 50–90 years, compared with a cohort of age matched healthy controls (n = 48). The study sample’s cognitive status ranged from normal to mild cognitive impairment and dementia. There was no difference between the Parkinson’s disease and healthy control groups with respect to mean ascorbate status, however, a higher proportion of participants with Parkinson’s disease had hypovitaminosis C (i.e., <23 μmol/L) compared with healthy controls (20% vs. 8%, respectively). Within the Parkinson’s disease group, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores correlated positively with ascorbate concentrations, with higher ascorbate status associated with better cognitive function (r = 0.14, p = 0.045). Participants with hypovitaminosis C had significantly lower MoCA scores relative to participants with ascorbate concentrations >23 µmol/L (p = 0.014). Ascorbate concentrations were significantly lower in the cognitively impaired subgroup compared with the normal cognition subgroup in the Parkinson’s disease cohort (p = 0.03). In contrast, urate showed an inverse correlation with cognitive function (r = −0.19, p = 0.007), with higher urate concentrations observed in the cognitively impaired subgroup compared with the normal cognition subgroup (p = 0.015). There was an inverse association between ascorbate status and urate concentrations (r = −0.15, p = 0.017). Plasma protein carbonyls, a measure of systemic oxidative stress, were not significantly different between the Parkinson’s disease cohort and healthy controls, and there was no association with cognitive function (r = 0.09, p = 0.19) or with ascorbate status (r = −0.05, p = 0.45). Overall, our study showed ascorbate status was positively associated with cognitive function in Parkinson’s disease, suggesting that longitudinal studies investigating the temporal sequence of cognitive decline and ascorbate status are warranted.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive Association of Ascorbate and Inverse Association of Urate with Cognitive Function in People with Parkinson’s Disease

et al. 2020

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“…In high-income settings, females appear to have higher vitamin C status and a lower prevalence of deficiency than males [3]. According to McCall et al [28], UK males have a four-fold odds ratio of deficiency compared with females (Table 4).…”

Section: Sexmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The difference in vitamin C status between males and females is thought to be partly a result of a volumetric dilution effect due to the higher fat-free mass of males [29]. There are also differences in dietary intakes between men and women, with women generally having comparable or higher intakes than men in high-income countries, although this difference is less apparent in some low-income settings [3]. It should also be noted that pregnancy and lactation typically lower women's vitamin C status due to hemodilution and the needs of the developing fetus and growing infant (see below).…”

Section: Sexmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, instead of being a normal liver metabolite, as is the case for most other animal species, ascorbate has instead become a vitamin and must be obtained through the diet to prevent hypovitaminosis C and outright deficiency [2]. In a recent review, we described the global status of vitamin C and the prevalence of deficiency as assessed by plasma concentrations [3]. Whilst vitamin C concentrations are normally tightly controlled in humans with adequate intake, a number of studies suggest that hypovitaminosis C and deficiency are not uncommon worldwide and may be very common in some settings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Factors Affecting Vitamin C Status and Prevalence of Deficiency: A Global Health Perspective

2020

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A recent review of global vitamin C status has indicated a high prevalence of deficiency, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, as well as in specific subgroups within high-income countries. Here, we provide a narrative review of potential factors influencing vitamin C status globally. The in vivo status of vitamin C is primarily affected by dietary intake and supplement use, with those who supplement having a higher mean status and a lower prevalence of deficiency. Dietary intake can be influenced by cultural aspects such as traditional cooking practices and staple foods, with many staple foods, such as grains, contributing negligible vitamin C to the diet. Environmental factors can also affect vitamin C intake and status; these include geographic region, season, and climate, as well as pollution, the latter partly due to enhanced oxidative stress. Demographic factors such as sex, age, and race are known to affect vitamin C status, as do socioeconomic factors such as deprivation, education and social class, and institutionalization. Various health aspects can affect vitamin C status; these include body weight, pregnancy and lactation, genetic variants, smoking, and disease states, including severe infections as well as various noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Some of these factors have changed over time; therefore, we also explore if vitamin C status has shown temporal changes. Overall, there are numerous factors that can affect vitamin C status to different extents in various regions of the world. Many of these factors are not taken into consideration during the setting of global dietary intake recommendations for vitamin C.

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“…Dietary micronutrients intake was shown to be important for human health [10,11]. Particularly, vitamin C has pleiotropic effects on human health, possibly due to its antioxidant properties and cofactor functions for numerous biosynthetic enzymes [12]. In addition, vitamin C is widely considered to be important for optimal immunity [13].…”

Section: Of 11mentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of Dietary Micronutrient Intake with Pulmonary Tuberculosis Treatment Failure Rate: ACohort Study

et al. 2020

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Malnutrition is associated with an increased risk of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) treatment failure. Currently, there is no effective adjunctive nutritional therapy. The current objective is to investigate the association of dietary micronutrient intake with PTB treatment outcome.A cohort study including 1834 PTB patients was conducted in Linyi, China. The dietary micronutrient intake was assessed through a three-day 24 h dietary recall questionnaire. The treatment outcome was assessed by combinations of sputum smear and computerized tomography results. A multivariate binary regression model was used to assess the associations. The final model was adjusted for potential confounding factors. A low intake of vitamin C (adjusted OR (95% CI): 1.80 (1.07, 3.04), Ptrend = 0.02) and Zn (adjusted OR (95% CI): 2.52 (1.25, 5.08), Ptrend = 0.02) was associated with a high treatment failure rate. In addition, a low intake of vitamin C and Mn was associated with a severe tuberculosis symptom, as indicated by a high TB score. A supplementation of vitamin C and Zn may be beneficial in PTB treatment. Previous meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported a null effect of Zn supplementation on PTB treatment. The effect of vitamin C supplementation should be investigated by RCTs.

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Global Vitamin C Status and Prevalence of Deficiency: A Cause for Concern?

Cited by 162 publications

References 84 publications

Positive Association of Ascorbate and Inverse Association of Urate with Cognitive Function in People with Parkinson’s Disease

Positive Association of Ascorbate and Inverse Association of Urate with Cognitive Function in People with Parkinson’s Disease

Factors Affecting Vitamin C Status and Prevalence of Deficiency: A Global Health Perspective

Association of Dietary Micronutrient Intake with Pulmonary Tuberculosis Treatment Failure Rate: ACohort Study

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