The neuropsychiatric effects of vitamin C deficiency: a systematic review
Open accessAbstract
Background: Vitamin C deficiency may be more common than is generally assumed, and the association between vitamin C deficiency and adverse psychiatric effects has been known for centuries. This paper aims to systematically review the evidence base for the neuropsychiatric effects of vitamin C deficiency. Methods: Relevant studies were identified via systematic literature review. Results: Nine studies of vitamin C deficiency, including subjects both with and without the associated physical manifestations of scurvy, were included in this review. Vitamin C deficiency, including scurvy, has been linked to depression and cognitive impairment. No effect on affective or non-affective psychosis was identified. Conclusions: Disparate measurement techniques for vitamin C, and differing definitions of vitamin C deficiency were apparent, complicating comparisons between studies. However, there is evidence suggesting that vitamin C deficiency is related to adverse mood and cognitive effects. The vitamin C blood levels associated with depression and cognitive impairment are higher than those implicated in clinical manifestations of scurvy. While laboratory testing for ascorbic acid can be practically difficult, these findings nonetheless suggest that mental health clinicians should be alerted to the possibility of vitamin C deficiency in patients with depression or cognitive impairment. Vitamin C replacement is inexpensive and easy to deliver, although as of yet there are no outcome studies investigating the neuropsychiatric impact of vitamin C replacement in those who are deficient.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Vitamin C affects dopaminergic system and its deficiency has been associated with schizophrenia.
“Vitamin C is known to affect the dopaminergic system and its deficiency has been associated with schizophrenia (Plevin and Galletly 2020).”
From Reactive Oxygen Species, Toxicity, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidants: Chronic Diseases and Aging (2023) · cites this paper as Plevin and Galletly 2020
Vitamin C deficiency is responsible for adverse mood and cognitive defects due to importance of vitamin C in modulating synthesis of neurotransmitters.
“Vitamin C deficiency is responsible for adverse mood and cognitive defects. This is due to the importance of vitamin C in modulating the synthesis of neurotransmitters (Plevin and Galletly 2020).”
From Reactive Oxygen Species, Toxicity, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidants: Chronic Diseases and Aging (2023) · cites this paper as Plevin and Galletly 2020
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics
Burtis, E. B. C. A., Ashwood, E. R., & Bruns, D. E. (2011) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 2,190 · see citing works
Vitamin C pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers: evidence for a recommended dietary allowance
Levine, M., Conry-Cantilena, C., Wang, Y., Welch, R. W., Washko, P. W., Dhariwal, K. R., Park, J. B., Lazarev, A., Graumlich, J. F., King, J., et al. (1996) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.93.8.3704 · Cited by 1,325 · see citing works
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine
Massarelli, J. J. (1984) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.1984.03340300091039 · Cited by 1,132 · see citing works
Vitamin C: The known and the unknown and Goldilocks
Padayatty, S., & Levine, M. (2016) · Oral Diseases · doi:10.1111/odi.12446 · Cited by 753 · see citing works
Vitamin C function in the brain: Vital role of the ascorbate transporter SVCT2
Harrison, F. E., & May, J. M. (2009) · Free Radical Biology and Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2008.12.018 · Cited by 661 · see citing works
Schleicher, R. L., Carroll, M. D., Ford, E. S., & Lacher, D. A. (2009) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.27016 · Cited by 504 · see citing works
Rickman, J. C., Barrett, D. M., & Bruhn, C. (2007) · Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture · doi:10.1002/jsfa.2825 · Cited by 482 · see citing works
Distribution of ascorbic acid, metabolites and analogues in man and animals
Hornig, D. (1975) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1975.tb29271.x · Cited by 438 · see citing works
The dietary pattern of patients with schizophrenia: A systematic review
Dipasquale, S., Pariante, C. M., Dazzan, P., Aguglia, E., McGuire, P. K., & Mondelli, V. (2012) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2012.10.005 · Cited by 399 · see citing works
Cappello, S., Cereda, E., Rondanelli, M., Klersy, C., Cameletti, B., Albertini, R., Magno, D., Caraccia, M., Turri, A., & Caccialanza, R. (2016) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu9010001 · Cited by 394 · see citing works
Neonatal Vitamin D Status and Risk of Schizophrenia
McGrath, J. J., Eyles, D. W., Pedersen, C. B., Anderson, C., Ko, P., Burne, T. H. J., Nørgaard‐Pedersen, B., HOUGAARD, D. M., & Mortensen, P. B. (2010) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.110 · Cited by 360 · see citing works
Differential compartmentalization of brain ascorbate and glutathione between neurons and glia
Rice, M. E., & Russo-Menna, I. (1997) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/s0306-4522(97)00347-3 · Cited by 313 · see citing works
Beckhauser, T. F., Francis-Oliveira, J., & De Pasquale, R. (2016) · Journal of Experimental Neuroscience · doi:10.4137/jen.s39887 · Cited by 301 · see citing works
Cognitive impairment and mortality in a cohort of elderly people
Galé, C. R., Martyn, C. N., & Cooper, C. C. (1996) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.312.7031.608 · Cited by 278 · see citing works
Ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid analyses in biological samples
Washko, P. W., Welch, R. W., Dhariwal, K. R., Wang, Y., & Levine, M. (1992) · Analytical Biochemistry · doi:10.1016/0003-2697(92)90131-p · Cited by 270 · see citing works
The epigenetic role of vitamin C in health and disease
Camarena, V., & Wang, G. (2016) · Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences · doi:10.1007/s00018-016-2145-x · Cited by 223 · see citing works
Vitamin C Status and Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review
Travica, N., Ried, K., Sali, A., Scholey, A. B., Hudson, I. L., & Pipingas, A. (2017) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu9090960 · Cited by 174 · see citing works
Detailed mapping of ascorbate distribution in rat brain
Milby, K. H., Oke, A., & Adams, R. N. (1982) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/0304-3940(82)90201-4 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Implementation of SI Units for Clinical Laboratory Data
YOUNG, D. S. (1987) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-106-1-114 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Metabolism of 14C- and 3H-labeled l-ascorbic acid in human scurvy
Baker, E. M., Hodges, R. E., Hood, J., Sauberlich, H. E., March, S. C., & Canham, J. E. (1971) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/24.4.444 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Estimated prevalence and predictors of vitamin C deficiency within UK's low-income population
Mosdøl, A., Erens, B., & Brunner, E. J. (2008) · Journal of Public Health · doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdn076 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
Implementation of SI Units for Clinical Laboratory Data.
(1988) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-108-3-508_4 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Lind, J. (1980) · The Classics of Medicine Library eBooks · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Some behavioral effects of ascorbic acid deficiency.
Kinsman, R., & Hood, J. (1971) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/24.4.455 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
Regional distribution of ascorbate in human brain
Mefford, I. N., Oke, A. F., & Adams, R. N. (1981) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0006-8993(81)90056-1 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
DISTRIBUTION OF ASCORBIC ACID IN THE BLOOD AND ITS NUTRITIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
Butler, A. M., & Cushman, M. (1940) · Journal of Clinical Investigation · doi:10.1172/jci101147 · Cited by 104 · see citing works
THE VITAMIN C CONTENT OF HUMAN TISSUES
Yavorsky, M., Almaden, P., & KING, C. G. (1934) · Journal of Biological Chemistry · doi:10.1016/s0021-9258(18)75429-x · Cited by 101 · see citing works
Pearson, J. F., Pullar, J. M., Wilson, R., Spittlehouse, J. K., Vissers, M. C. M., Skidmore, P. M. L., Willis, J. A., Cameron, V. A., & Carr, A. C. (2017) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu9080831 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Hypothyroidism induces selective oxidative stress in amygdala and hippocampus of rat
Cano-Europa, E., Pérez‐Severiano, F., Vergara, P., Ortiz-Butrón, R., Rı́os, C., Segovia, J., & Pacheco-Rosado, J. (2008) · Metabolic Brain Disease · doi:10.1007/s11011-008-9099-0 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Ascorbic Acid to Manage Psychiatric Disorders
Moretti, M., Fraga, D. B., & Rodrigues, A. L. S. (2017) · CNS Drugs · doi:10.1007/s40263-017-0446-8 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
High Vitamin C Status Is Associated with Elevated Mood in Male Tertiary Students
Pullar, J., Carr, A., Bozonet, S., & Vissers, M. (2018) · Antioxidants · doi:10.3390/antiox7070091 · Cited by 52 · cited 4× · see citing works
“022), compared to those with adequate vitamin C status [24].”
BackgroundResultInfluentialPlasma Vitamin C Concentrations and Cognitive Function: A Cross-Sectional Study
Travica, N., Ried, K., Sali, A., Hudson, I. L., Scholey, A. B., & Pipingas, A. (2019) · Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnagi.2019.00072 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
WALKER, A. E. (1968) · British Journal of Dermatology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.1968.tb11911.x · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Chen, Y., Curran, C. P., Nebert, D. W., Patel, K. V., Williams, M. T., & Vorhees, C. V. (2012) · Genes Brain & Behavior · doi:10.1111/j.1601-183x.2011.00762.x · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Chazan, J. A., & Mistilis, S. P. (1963) · The American Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1016/0002-9343(63)90122-0 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Vitamin and Trace Mineral Deficiency and Excess
Russell, R. M., Suter, P. M., Longo, D., & Fauci, A. S. (2008) · Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Vitamin C deficiency and diabetes mellitus – easily missed?
Christie‐David, D., & Gunton, J. E. (2016) · Diabetic Medicine · doi:10.1111/dme.13287 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Regional distribution of [3H]MK-801 binding sites in the human brain
Kornhuber, J., Mack-Burkhardt, F., & Riederer, P. (1989) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0006-8993(89)90879-2 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Vitamin and trace Mineral Deficiency and Excess
Suter, P. M., Kasper, D., Fauci, A. S., et al. (2015) · Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Relation between intake and plasma concentration of vitamin C in elderly women.
Newton, H., MORGAN, D. B., Schorah, C. J., et al. (1983) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.287.6403.1429 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Marazzi, M. C., Mancinelli, S., Palombi, L., et al. (1990) · PubMed · Cited by 18 · see citing works
CONFUSIONAL STATES IN RELATION TO VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES IN THE ELDERLY
Mitra, M. (1971) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1971.tb01213.x · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Bryant, A., & Knox, A. (2015) · PubMed · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Behavioural and neurochemical effects of scurvy in gulo knockout mice
Harrison, F. E. (2013) · Journal for Maritime Research · doi:10.1080/21533369.2013.783163 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Paradoxical appearance of adult scurvy in Martinique, French West Indies
Deligny, C., Dehlinger, V., Goëb, V., et al. (2010) · European Journal of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2010.11.011 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- [15]Gabb G Gabb B Scurvy not rare Aust Fam Physician 2015 44 7 438 440 26922826
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Reactive Oxygen Species, Toxicity, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidants: Chronic Diseases and Aging
Jomova, K., Raptova, R., Alomar, S. Y., Alwasel, S. H., Nepovimova, E., Kuca, K., & Valko, M. (2023) · Archives of Toxicology · doi:10.1007/s00204-023-03562-9 · Cited by 2,638 · see citing works
- Authors
- Plevin, D., & Galletly, C.
- Affiliations
- SA Health (AU)
- The University of Adelaide (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Plevin, David
- Venue
- BMC Psychiatry
- Published
- 2020-06-18
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 315-315
- ISSN
- 1471-244X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7302360
- OpenAlex
- W3036062496
- Cited by
- 120
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 2.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- BMC Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Vitamin C and Antioxidants Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Alcoholism and Thiamine Deficiency
- Keywords
- scurvy, depression, cognitive impairment, psychosis, neuropsychiatric effects, vitamin C, mood disorders
- MeSH terms
- Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid Deficiency, Depression, Humans, Scurvy, Vitamins, Cognitive Dysfunction
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
