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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
Serum vitamin C and the prevalence of vitamin C deficiency in the United States: 2003‐2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
Contributor:
Schleicher, Rosemary Lawless;
Carroll, Margaret D;
Ford, Earl S;
Lacher, David A
Description:
<jats:sec><jats:label /><jats:p>In NHANES III (1988‐1994), 11.6±0.8% (SE) of the US population was vitamin C deficient based on serum concentrations <11.4 ìmol/L. The distribution of serum vitamin C concentrations in the United States and the prevalence of deficiency in selected subgroups for 2003‐2004 were estimated. Total serum ascorbic acid (vitamin C) was measured in 7,277 non‐institutionalized civilians aged 6 years and older from the cross‐sectional, nationally representative NHANES 2003‐2004. The overall age‐adjusted mean from the square‐root transformed (SM) concentration was 51.4 ìmol/L (95% confidence interval: 48.4‐54.6). The highest concentrations were found in children and older persons. Within each race/ethnic group, females had higher concentrations than males (p<0.05). Smokers′ mean concentrations were one‐third lower than those of nonsmokers′(SM: 37.7 vs. 56.2 ìmol/L; p<0.001). Obese adults had serum ascorbic acid concentrations that were 14‐21% lower than those of overweight or healthy weight adults (p<0.01). The overall prevalence of age‐adjusted ascorbic acid deficiency was 7.10.9% (SE). Smokers were at risk for deficiency more than three times as often as nonsmokers. In 2003‐2004, the population weighted distribution of serum ascorbic acid concentrations in the United States showed an improvement in vitamin C status, and the prevalence of vitamin C deficiency was significantly lower than during NHANES III.</jats:p></jats:sec>