Ascorbic acid status of smoking and nonsmoking adolescent females.

The nutritional status of a group of smoking (N = 11) and nonsmoking (N = 26) adolescent females, ages 14 to 17 years, was evaluated with respect to vitamin C. Dietary intakes of ascorbic acid (AA) were determined from two separate 24-hour food recalls. Plasma AA was determined via the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method. Significant differences were found between smokers and nonsmokers for vitamin C intake and plasma AA. Smokers had lower dietary intakes (27 +/- 11 mg/day) and plasma AA levels (0.32 +/- 0.19 mg/dl) than did nonsmokers (73 +/- 47 mg/day; 1.46 +/- 0.69 mg/dl). When plasma vitamin C values were adjusted for vitamin C intake, smokers still exhibited a significantly lower plasma AA concentration (0.48 mg/dl vs 1.38 mg/dl for nonsmokers). Cigarette smoking was associated with a significantly decreased AA status in the present group of adolescent females.