Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, Vol 1, Issue 4 297-302, Copyright © 1992 by American Association for Cancer Research

ARTICLES

Determinants of plasma ascorbic acid in a healthy male population

R Sinha, G Block and PR Taylor
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.

The antioxidant properties of vitamin C may be involved in the prevention of cancer. The correlation between dietary vitamin C intake as estimated by a dietary questionnaire and plasma ascorbic acid (AA) was examined in 68 nonsmoking male volunteers aged 30-59 years. Determinants of plasma AA as well as interrelationships between various antioxidants in plasma were also explored. The determinants of plasma AA were examined by a multiple regression model containing dietary vitamin C, calories, body weight, and amount of beverages consumed. Higher vitamin C intake (P < 0.0002) increased plasma AA, while greater body weight (P < 0.005) decreased plasma AA. A significant correlation (r = 0.43; P < 0.0003) between vitamin C intake and plasma AA was observed. There was a negative correlation between plasma AA and plasma uric acid (r = -0.32; P < 0.007) and positive associations between plasma beta-carotene and plasma alpha-tocopherol (r = 0.39; P < 0.001) and between plasma beta-carotene and plasma glutathione peroxidase (r = 0.32; P < 0.008). Vitamin C supplement users had higher plasma AA compared to nonusers. The relationship between plasma AA and vitamin C intake appears to be curvilinear with the non-supplement users at the linear part of the curve and the supplement users at the plateau. Plasma AA is an appropriate biomarker, in our subjects, of dietary vitamin C except for people consuming large amounts of this vitamin either in their diet or in supplemental form.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. M Merrill, S. G Aldana, R. L Greenlaw, A. Salberg, and H. Englert Chronic disease risk reduction with a community-based lifestyle change programme Health Education Journal, September 1, 2008; 67(3): 219 - 230. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. M McKeown, N. E Day, A. A Welch, S. A Runswick, R. N Luben, A. A Mulligan, A. McTaggart, and S. A Bingham Use of biological markers to validate self-reported dietary intake in a random sample of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer United Kingdom Norfolk cohort Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2001; 74(2): 188 - 196. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Block, A. R. Mangels, B. H. Patterson, O. A. Levander, E. P. Norkus, and P. R. Taylor Body Weight and Prior Depletion Affect Plasma Ascorbate Levels Attained on Identical Vitamin C Intake: A Controlled-Diet Study J. Am. Coll. Nutr., December 1, 1999; 18(6): 628 - 637. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. R. Greenberg, J. A. Baron, T. D. Tosteson, D. H. Freeman, G. J. Beck, J. H. Bond, T. A. Colacchio, J. A. Coller, H. D. Frankl, R. W. Haile, et al. A Clinical Trial of Antioxidant Vitamins to Prevent Colorectal Adenoma N. Engl. J. Med., July 21, 1994; 331(3): 141 - 147. [Abstract] [Full Text]