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Cited by 38Vitamin C and Antioxidants ResearchPhytochemicals and Antioxidant ActivitiesAntioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress

A Randomized Steady-State Bioavailability Study of Synthetic versus Natural (Kiwifruit-Derived) Vitamin C

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Carr, Anitra, Bozonet, Stephanie, Pullar, Juliet, Simcock, Jeremy, Vissers, Margreet·2013·Nutrients
DOI 10.3390/nu5093684PMC PMC3798928
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Abstract

Whether vitamin C from wholefoods has equivalent bioavailability to a purified supplement remains unclear. We have previously showed that kiwifruit provided significantly higher serum and tissue ascorbate levels than synthetic vitamin C in a genetically vitamin C-deficient mouse model, suggesting a synergistic activity of the whole fruit. To determine if these results are translatable to humans, we carried out a randomized human study comparing the bioavailability of vitamin C from kiwifruit with that of a vitamin C tablet of equivalent dosage. Thirty-six young non-smoking adult males were randomized to receive either half a gold kiwifruit (Actinidia Chinensis var. Hort 16A) per day or a comparable vitamin C dose (50 mg) in a chewable tablet for six weeks. Ascorbate was monitored weekly in fasting venous blood and in urine, semen, leukocytes, and skeletal muscle (vastus lateralis) pre- and post-intervention. Dietary intake of vitamin C was monitored using seven day food and beverage records. Participant ascorbate levels increased in plasma (P < 0.001), urine (P < 0.05), mononuclear cells (P < 0.01), neutrophils (P < 0.01) and muscle tissue (P < 0.001) post intervention. There were no significant differences in vitamin C bioavailability between the two intervention groups in any of the fluid, cell or tissue samples tested. Overall, our study showed comparable bioavailability of synthetic and kiwifruit-derived vitamin C.

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  • The kinetics of uptake varies between tissues, with vitamin C levels in some organs (e.g., the brain) reaching a plateau at lower plasma vitamin C status, whereas other tissue levels (e.g., skeletal muscle) continue to increase in close association with increasing plasma supply.

    “The kinetics of uptake varies between tissues, with vitamin C levels in some organs (e.g., the brain) reaching a plateau at lower plasma vitamin C status, whereas other tissue levels (e.g., skeletal muscle) continue to increase in close association with increasing plasma supply [32,44,45,48].”

    From The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. (2017) · cites this paper as [48]

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References 41 · Cited by 38

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Authors
Carr, A., Bozonet, S., Pullar, J., Simcock, J., & Vissers, M.
Affiliations
University of Otago (NZ)
Corresponding author
Carr, Anitra
ORCID
Venue
Nutrients
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2013-09-17
Volume
5
Issue
9
Pages
3684-3695
ISSN
2072-6643 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/nu5093684
PMC
PMC3798928
OpenAlex
W2065816483
Cited by
38
References
41
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3
FWCI
3.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nutrients (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
University of Otago
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Vitamin C and Antioxidants Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
Keywords
vitamin C, bioavailability, kiwifruit, Actinidia chinensis, dietary supplementation, urinary excretion, leukocytes, skeletal muscle, scurvy
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Animals, Antioxidants, Ascorbic Acid, Biological Availability, Fruit, Humans, Leukocytes, Male, Semen, Muscle, Skeletal, Cross-Over Studies, Dietary Supplements, Actinidia, Young Adult

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