J C Will1, E S Ford, B A Bowman. 1. Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. jxw6@cdc.gov
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggested that diabetes mellitus may lower serum vitamin C concentrations, but most of these studies used clinic-based populations with established diabetes of varying duration and did not adjust for important covariates. OBJECTIVE: Using a population-based sample and adjusting for important covariates, we asked whether serum vitamin C concentrations in persons with newly diagnosed diabetes differed from those in persons without diabetes. DESIGN: Data were obtained from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994). Serum vitamin C was assayed by using reversed-phase HPLC with multiwavelength detection. Diabetes status (n = 237 persons with diabetes; n = 1803 persons without diabetes) was determined by oral-glucose-tolerance testing of the sample aged 40-74 y. RESULTS: After adjustment for age and sex, mean serum vitamin C concentrations were significantly lower in persons with newly diagnosed diabetes than in those without diabetes. After adjustment for dietary intake of vitamin C and other important covariates, however, mean concentrations did not differ according to diabetes status. CONCLUSION: When assessing serum vitamin C concentrations by diabetes status in the future, researchers should measure and account for all factors that influence serum vitamin C concentrations.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggested that diabetes mellitus may lower serum vitamin C concentrations, but most of these studies used clinic-based populations with established diabetes of varying duration and did not adjust for important covariates. OBJECTIVE: Using a population-based sample and adjusting for important covariates, we asked whether serum vitamin C concentrations in persons with newly diagnosed diabetes differed from those in persons without diabetes. DESIGN: Data were obtained from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994). Serum vitamin C was assayed by using reversed-phase HPLC with multiwavelength detection. Diabetes status (n = 237 persons with diabetes; n = 1803 persons without diabetes) was determined by oral-glucose-tolerance testing of the sample aged 40-74 y. RESULTS: After adjustment for age and sex, mean serum vitamin C concentrations were significantly lower in persons with newly diagnosed diabetes than in those without diabetes. After adjustment for dietary intake of vitamin C and other important covariates, however, mean concentrations did not differ according to diabetes status. CONCLUSION: When assessing serum vitamin C concentrations by diabetes status in the future, researchers should measure and account for all factors that influence serum vitamin C concentrations.
Authors: Yiqing Song; Nancy R Cook; Christine M Albert; Martin Van Denburgh; JoAnn E Manson Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2009-06-02 Impact factor: 7.045