Vitamin C status in cancer patients and healthy subjects from the local population of Pokhara.

OBJECTIVES: To assess vitamin C status by determining plasma ascorbic acid level in 55 cancer patients and 55 matched normal subjects serving as control. METHODS: The proven cancer patients were selected from those attending Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara. Matched controls were from the staff of Manipal Teaching Hospital or attendants of the patients. Plasma ascorbic acid was determined by the method of Natelson. Unpaired student 't' test was used for the statistical evaluation. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS version 9 software. RESULTS: The mean level of vitamin C in normal subjects and patients was 1.03+/-0.26 mg/dl and 0.90+/-0.30 mg/dl respectively. None of the subjects in either group had deficient status (<0.2 mg/dl). Although its status was normal in both the groups but patients had lower level than normal subjects. Smokers and alcohol consumers had significantly lower level than non-smoker and non-alcoholics. CONCLUSION: In the local population, vitamin C deficiency is not an etiologic factor in malignancy. Smoking and alcohol adversely affects the status of this vitamin.

Comparison of plasma and leukocyte vitamin C status between asthmatic and healthy subjects

In a case-control study the vitamin C status of 50 adults with chronic controlled asthma was compared with that of 50 randomly selected healthy controls. Vitamin C intake was assessed by 3-day dietary recall, and plasma and leukocyte vitamin C concentrations were measured colorimetrically. A positive significant correlation was found between plasma vitamin C and dietary vitamin C intake. Plasma and leukocyte vitamin C levels were significantly lower in the asthma group. Plasma vitamin C was deficient [< 0.4 mg/dL] in significantly more patients than controls [38.0% versus 0%] and leukocyte vitamin C [< 20 micro g/10[8] leukocytes] was deficient in 92.0% of asthmatics versus 8.0% of controls. significant association was observed between duration of asthma and plasma vitamin C level

Plasma vitamin A and C status of in-school adolescents and associated factors in Enugu State, Nigeria.

The study was undertaken to determine the intake of vitamin A and C and plasma concentrations of these vitamins among in-school adolescents. The factors affecting the vitamin status of these adolescents were also determined. Data for this report were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 600 in-school adolescents in Nsukka local government area (LGA) of Enugu State, Nigeria. Ninety and 45 of the adolescents were randomly selected for determining plasma concentrations of vitamin A and C and intake of these vitamins respectively. Dietary assessment was done using a three-day weighed food intake method. Venous blood samples were collected and used for determining plasma vitamin A using the trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) method, while plasma vitamin C was determined by the thiourea method. Values obtained were matched against standards. The intake of vitamin A by all the adolescents was adequate (126-137% of recommended intake), while the intake of vitamin C was inadequate (51-91% of recommended intake). The mean intake of vitamin C was higher among males (23.7 +/- 0.71-27.3 +/- 8.0) than among females (15.3 +/- 2.8-19.5 +/- 5.1). Despite the adequate intake of vitamin A, 40% of the male and 32% of the female adolescents had low plasma concentrations of the vitamin (< 20 microg/dL). On the other hand, concentrations of plasma vitamin C were low among about 47% of these adolescents. Using multiple regression analysis, the two most important variables influencing vitamin A status were household size (b = -0.629; p < 0.0 1) and nutrition knowledge (b = -1.372; p < 0.01), while for vitamin C status, these were household size (b = -0.110; p = 0.05) and age (b = 0.226; p < 0.05). The daytime students had a significantly (p < 0.05) better vitamin A and C status than the boarders. The prevalence of vitamin A and C deficiencies among the adolescents may be more than estimated due to inadequate intake and/or poor bioavailability. This may pose a serious health risk for adolescents. There is, therefore, a need for adequate nutrition education and awareness about healthy lifestyles among Nigerian adolescents.

Avaliaçäo do estado nutricional vitamínico C em escolares: estudo piloto / Evaluation of nutritional status of vitamin C in students: pilot study

Foram analisados os dados de 106 escolares no ano de 1990, matriculados nas escolas do município de Joao Pessoa. O estado nutricional vitamínico C foi avaliado segundo ROY et KUETHER: 17 por cento das crianças apresentaram um estado de carência vitamínica C grave e 20 por cento um estado de carência vitamínica C moderada, perfazendo um total de 37 por cento da amostra com níveis baixos de vitamina C no sangue. O método spectrofotométrico escolhido foi utilizado em 50 por cento dos estudos realizados a nível nacional e internacional nos últimos cinco anos. A deficiência nutricional, avaliada através de diferentes critérios representou 10 por cento para relaçao altura/idade e 22 por cento para relaçao idade/peso. Nao encontrou-se associaçao entre desnutriçao e carência vitamínica C, provavelmente devido ao fato do estudo ter sido realizado a nível extra hospitalar. Encontrou-se associaçao entre a carência de vitamina C e o baixo nível sócio-econômico. Diante do exposto e considerando que as carências nutricionais crônicas mesmo leves ou moderadas podem ter influência negativa na capacidade mental e nas funçoes cognitivas dos indivíduos, recomendamos que sejam efetuados outros estudos de microcarências a fim de subsidiar propostas de intervençao.