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

ABSTRACT

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