http://www.canada.com/health/young+Canadians+deficient+vitamin+Study/1947236/story.html

1 in 7 young Canadians deficient in vitamin C: Study

NEW YORK - As many as one in seven young Canadian adults may be deficient in vitamin C, which could place them at increased risk for chronic health problems, according to new research.

Dr. Ahmed El-Sohemy, of the University of Toronto, and his team found that 33 per cent of nearly 1,000 Canadian adults they tested had suboptimal levels, and the remaining 14 per cent, one in seven, had deficient levels.

Vitamin C deficiency "is easily preventable," El-Sohemy said.

He suggested eating vitamin C-containing fruits and vegetables, such as citrus fruits and peppers, or to take supplements to reach recommended intakes of 90 and 75 milligrams a day for men and women, respectively.

The researchers gathered information on diet, race/ethnicity, vitamin C supplement use, height, weight, waist size, body mass, blood pressure, and physical activity and did blood tests to determine the levels of circulating ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

Women generally had higher blood levels of ascorbic acid than men, though dietary vitamin C intake was similar between genders. Also, women who were taking oral contraceptives had lower vitamin C levels than those who were not.

Not surprisingly, those who did not get recommended daily allowances of vitamin C were more likely to have a deficiency.

The researchers said people deficient in vitamin C had higher average levels of C-reactive protein, an indicator of inflammation and potentially of a number of chronic conditions.

Those who were vitamin C deficient were also more likely to have larger waists and body mass, and higher blood pressure, according to the study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
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