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Plasma Vitamin C Levels: Risk Factors for Deficiency and Association with Self-Reported Functional Health in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

McCall, Stephen J 
Clark, Allan B 
Luben, Robert N 
Wareham, Nicholas J 
Khaw, Kay-Tee 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To investigate the demographic and lifestyles factors associated with vitamin C deficiency and to examine the association between plasma vitamin C level and self-reported physical functional health. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study using the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk study. Plasma vitamin C level < 11 µmol/L indicated vitamin C deficiency. Unconditional logistic regression models assessed the association between vitamin C deficiency and potential risk factors. Associations between quartiles of vitamin C and self-reported functional health measured by the 36-item short-form questionnaire (SF-36) were assessed. RESULTS: After adjustment, vitamin C deficiency was associated with older age, being male, lower physical activity, smoking, more socially deprived area (Townsend index) and a lower educational attainment. Compared to the highest, those in the lowest quartile of vitamin C were more likely to score in the lowest decile of physical function (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.43 (95%CI: 1.21-1.70)), bodily pain (aOR: 1.29 (95% CI: 1.07-1.56)), general health (aOR: 1.4 (95%CI: 1.18-1.66)), and vitality (aOR: 1.23 (95%CI: 1.04-1.45)) SF-36 scores. CONCLUSIONS: Simple public health interventions should be aimed at populations with risk factors for vitamin C deficiency. Poor self-reported functional health was associated with lower plasma vitamin C levels, which may reflect symptoms of latent scurvy.

Description

Keywords

EPIC-Norfolk, risk factors, self-reported health, vitamin C, Adult, Aged, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid Deficiency, Europe, Female, Humans, Life Style, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Risk Factors, Self Report, Socioeconomic Factors, United Kingdom

Journal Title

Nutrients

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2072-6643
2072-6643

Volume Title

11

Publisher

MDPI AG

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/1)
Medical Research Council (MR/N003284/1)
Department of Health (via National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)) (NF-SI-0617-10149)
Medical Research Council (G1000143)
Medical Research Council (G0401527)
EPIC-Norfolk is supported by Cancer Research UK and MRC, UK. Funders had no role in design, analysis and interpretation of the study results.