Plasma Vitamin C Levels: Risk Factors for Deficiency and Association with Self-Reported Functional Health in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk
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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.
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In the UK general population, low blood vitamin C status (lowest quartile) is associated with significantly increased odds of poor physical functional health, bodily pain, general health, and vitality scores.
“Whatever the regression model, those in the lowest quartile of vitamin C, compared with the highest, had significantly increased odds of having a poor physical functional health SF-36 score, a poor bodily pain score, a poor self-reported general health and a poor vitality score.”
From Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence (2020) · cites this paper as [110]
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References 37 · Cited by 41
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- [2]Combs J.P. Jr. Gerald F. Vitamin C The Vitamins: Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health 5th ed. Combs J.P. Jr. Gerald F. Academic Press London, UK 2017 267 295
- Authors
- McCall, S. J., Clark, A. B., Luben, R. N., Wareham, N. J., Khaw, K.-T., & Myint, P. K.
- Affiliations
- University of Aberdeen (GB)
- University of East Anglia (GB)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Myint, Phyo Kyaw
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nutrients
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2019-07-09
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1552
- ISSN
- 2072-6643 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6682997
- OpenAlex
- W2954743683
- Cited by
- 41
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6
- FWCI
- 3.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- dx.doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Nutrients (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UEA Digital Repository (University of East Anglia) (acceptedVersion)
- Aberdeen University Research Archive (Aberdeen University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Apollo (University of Cambridge) (submittedVersion)
- Apollo
- Funders
- Medical research council (N/A)
- Cancer Research UK (N/A)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Vitamin C and Antioxidants Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutrition and Health Studies
- Keywords
- scurvy, plasma vitamin C levels, self-reported health, risk factors, physical activity, smoking, social deprivation, educational attainment, bodily pain, vitality, SF-36
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid Deficiency, Europe, Female, United Kingdom, Humans, Life Style, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Self Report
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