Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol 13, Issue 1 22-32, Copyright © 1994 by American College of Nutrition

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Supplement use, other dietary and demographic variables, and serum vitamin C in NHANES II

V. A. Dickinson, G. Block and E. Russek-Cohen
Nutritional Sciences Program, University of Maryland.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of regular use of nutritional supplements on serum vitamin C levels in a multivariable regression model, taking into account other dietary and demographic variables which may affect nutritional status. METHODS: We analyzed NHANES II data for subjects age 3 to 74. Analysis was limited to regular supplement users and nonusers, excluding irregular users. Multivariable regression analysis was performed with SUDAAN, incorporating sample weights and accounting for the complex survey design. RESULTS: Regular supplement users had substantially higher serum vitamin C levels than nonusers (p < 0.001). The magnitude of the effect of supplement use on serum vitamin C was 0.23-0.33 mg/dL in children and teens, and 0.36-0.46 mg/dL in adults. In adults who smoked, bottom quartile vitamin C levels were 0.3 mg/dL in men and 0.4 mg/dL in women who did not use supplements, compared to 0.9 and 1.1 mg/dL in regular supplement users. There was a significant interaction of smoking and supplement use in men (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Regular supplement use has a strong impact on serum vitamin C levels, independent of other dietary and demographic characteristics of supplement users which may favor improved nutritional status.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. B. Keller and L. Lemberg The Importance of Vitamin C in the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation Am. J. Crit. Care., May 1, 2008; 17(3): 270 - 272. [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. C. Kregel and H. J. Zhang An integrated view of oxidative stress in aging: basic mechanisms, functional effects, and pathological considerations Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, January 1, 2007; 292(1): R18 - R36. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Johnston Strategies for Healthy Weight Loss: From Vitamin C to the Glycemic Response J. Am. Coll. Nutr., June 1, 2005; 24(3): 158 - 165. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S Hampl, C. A. Taylor, and C. S. Johnston Vitamin C Deficiency and Depletion in the United States: The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988 to 1994 Am J Public Health, May 1, 2004; 94(5): 870 - 875. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Padayatty, A. Katz, Y. Wang, P. Eck, O. Kwon, J.-H. Lee, S. Chen, C. Corpe, A. Dutta, S. K Dutta, et al. Vitamin C as an Antioxidant: Evaluation of Its Role in Disease Prevention J. Am. Coll. Nutr., February 1, 2003; 22(1): 18 - 35. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Block, M. Dietrich, E. P. Norkus, J. D. Morrow, M. Hudes, B. Caan, and L. Packer Factors Associated with Oxidative Stress in Human Populations Am. J. Epidemiol., August 1, 2002; 156(3): 274 - 285. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Block, E. Norkus, M. Hudes, S. Mandel, and K. Helzlsouer Which Plasma Antioxidants Are Most Related to Fruit and Vegetable Consumption? Am. J. Epidemiol., December 15, 2001; 154(12): 1113 - 1118. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. S. Ford Vitamin Supplement Use and Diabetes Mellitus Incidence among Adults in the United States Am. J. Epidemiol., May 1, 2001; 153(9): 892 - 897. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S Hampl, C. A. Taylor, and C. S. Johnston Intakes of Vitamin C, Vegetables and Fruits: Which Schoolchildren Are at Risk? J. Am. Coll. Nutr., December 1, 1999; 18(6): 582 - 590. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Simon and E. S. Hudes Relation of Serum Ascorbic Acid to Serum Vitamin B12, Serum Ferritin, and Kidney Stones in US Adults Arch Intern Med, March 22, 1999; 159(6): 619 - 624. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Johnston and L. L. Thompson Vitamin C Status of an Outpatient Population J. Am. Coll. Nutr., August 1, 1998; 17(4): 366 - 370. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]