Low Vitamin C Linked to Chronic Disease Risk - Read More Page 1

2011-03-20
Low Vitamin C Linked to Chronic Disease Risk

Almost half of Canadian adults are not getting enough vitamin C, according to a recent study, which also suggests that deficiency of the vitamin could be linked to a greater risk of obesity.

Published last month in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the study found that one in seven young Canadian adults have vitamin C deficiency and one in three has "less than optimal" levels of vitamin C. The study involved 979 Toronto-based participants between the ages of 20 and 29.

"Our research found that 47 per cent of young Canadian adults have deficient or sub-optimal blood levels of vitamin C, which is associated with adverse health effects," said El-Sohemy, senior researcher of the study.

The deficiency was associated with elevated markers of chronic disease and obesity, including a "significantly" higher waist circumference, body mass index, inflammation and blood pressure.

Source:

Vitamin C Deficiency in a Population of Young Canadian Adults

American Journal of Epidemiology 2009 170(4):464-471; doi: 10.1093/aje/kwp156

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