Vitamin C Status Is Related To Markers

October 23, 2006

The prevalence of obesity has doubled over the past 2 decades.

Coincidental to this rise in obesity, the prevalence of vitamin C

deficiency has tripled among Americans: ~20% of U.S. adults are

vitamin C depleted.

We have preliminary evidence that vitamin C status favorably

influences fat and exercise performance. This research examined the

relationship between plasma vitamin C concentrations, markers of

adiposity, and adiponectin concentrations.

A fasting blood sample and anthropometrics were collected from non-

smoking, sedentary women (20-50 y) from a campus community.

Participants were grouped by body mass index (BMI: 20-24.9, 25-29.9,

30-24.9, and 35-40 kg/m2; n=24, 13, 13 and 12 respectively). Eight

percent of participants were classified as Vitamin C depleted.

Plasma vitamin C (?mol/L) was ~25-30% higher in normal weight women

as compared to overweight and obese women (58.9±2.7 versus 46.3±3.9

and 45.3± respectively; p<0.015).

Plasma concentrations of adiponectin, a collagen-like molecule, and

vitamin C were not correlated. Vitamin C status explained 17% of the

variance in BMI; vitamin C + adiponectin explained 27% of the

variance. Also, vitamin C explained 22% of the variance in body fat

percentage; vitamin C + adiponectin explained 30% of the variance.

These data indicate that low plasma concentrations of vitamin C and

adiponectin are independently related to risk for adiposity. This

research was supported by a grant from the General Mills, Bell

Institute of Health and Nutrition.

Journal of the American College of Nutrition

Wayne State University 3009 Science Hall

Detroit, MI 48202

United States

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