A comparative study of serum ascorbic acid level in people with and without type 2 diabetes in Ibadan, Nigeria.

The serum ascorbic acid status of 46 type 2 diabetic subjects attending the Out-Patient Clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria and that of 42 non- diabetic adult subjects who served as control was compared. Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on the socio-economic characteristics, and ascorbic-acid intake of the subjects. The body mass index and the serum ascorbic acid status of the subjects were also assessed. The mean age of the diabetics and of the control subjects were 55.9 +/- 13.7 and 47.3 +/- 11.2 years respectively. A large number (92.3%) of the patients were placed on diet and oral hypoglycaemic drug. The ascorbic acid intake of the diabetic and non-diabetic subjects was not significantly different (P > 0.05). Majority (83.4%) of the patients and only 37.2% of the control were either overweight or obese. A high percentage (78.3%) of the patients and 19.7% of the non-diabetic adults serving as control had low serum ascorbic acid level. The mean serum ascorbic acid level of the patients was significantly lower than that of the control (P < 0.05). Statistical analysis revealed that duration of illness, body mass index and fasting blood glucose level had significant (P < 0.05) and inverse relationship with serum ascorbic acid level of the patients. This study indicates a need to improve the plasma ascorbic acid level of diabetic patients in order to help prevent high level of free radicals which are known to be associated with vascular complications of diabetes.