Vitamin C Deficiency in a University Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Vitamin C deficiency is prevalent and sustained in patients in a Canadian teaching hospital. The abnormality can be prevented by providing a diet sufficient in vitamin C or by prescribing a multiple vitamin tablet.

Effects of vitamin C and vitamin D administration on mood and distress in acutely hospitalized patients

“…We observed earlier that appropriate provision of vitamin C improved the mood state of acutely hospitalized patients, whereas vitamin D administration at the upper tolerable dose of 2000 IU/d had no effect (8). No conclusion was possible regarding the benefit of correcting in-hospital hypovitaminosis D insufficiency, however, because the administered dose only slightly increased plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] 5 concentrations during the short time course of the trial (8). The tolerable upper level of vitamin D intake was recently increased to 4000 IU/d (34).…”

“…When untreated, hypovitaminosis C persists indefinitely in hospitalized patients (5), and any improvement in general clinical condition would not be restricted to the vitamin C group, unless correction of vitamin C deficiency itself caused a general physiologic improvement.…”

“…4 Total vitamin C is the sum of ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid. 5 The total mood disturbance score ranges from 220 to 100. 6 The Distress Thermometer score ranges from 0 to 10. deficiency or to a more general improvement in physiologic function.…”

“…Patients in the intensive care unit (or being considered for transfer there) or receiving renal replacement therapy were not eligible. Eligible patients were informed that they could be at risk of vitamin C and D deficiency and invited to participate in the study, which involved daily administration of vitamin C or vitamin D for a maximum of 10 d. Participating patients were examined for potential signs of scurvy (skin bruising or hemorrhagic gingivitis), and their BMI was visually estimated (5,40).…”

“…Immediately after separation in a refrigerated centrifuge, plasma samples were deproteinized, flash frozen, and stored at 2808C and analyzed for reduced ascorbic acid and total vitamin C by electrochemical detection HPLC, as previously described (8). A plasma total vitamin C concentration ,28.4 mmol/L is regarded as vitamin C depletion and a concentration ,11.4 mmol/L is regarded as frankly deficient (5,6). Plasma 25(OH)D was analyzed by radioimmunoassay (Immunodiagnostic Systems).…”