Global Vitamin C Status and Prevalence of Deficiency: A Cause for Concern?

Nutrients

卷:12

Sam Rowe¹  AnitraC. Carr² 

[1] Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L35QA, UK;

[2] Nutrition in Medicine Research Group, Department of Pathology & Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand;

关键词: vitamin C status;    hypovitaminosis C;    vitamin C deficiency;    low and middle income;    LMIC;    dietary intake;   

DOI  :  10.3390/nu12072008

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that must be obtained through the diet in adequate amounts to prevent hypovitaminosis C, deficiency and its consequences—including the potentially fatal deficiency disease scurvy. Global vitamin C status and prevalence of deficiency has not previously been reported, despite vitamin C’s pleiotropic roles in both non-communicable and communicable disease. This review highlights the global literature on vitamin C status and the prevalence of hypovitaminosis C and deficiency. Related dietary intake is reported if assessed in the studies. Overall, the review illustrates the shortage of high quality epidemiological studies of vitamin C status in many countries, particularly low- and middle-income countries. The available evidence indicates that vitamin C hypovitaminosis and deficiency is common in low- and middle-income countries and not uncommon in high income settings. Further epidemiological studies are required to confirm these findings, to fully assess the extent of global vitamin C insufficiency, and to understand associations with a range of disease processes. Our findings suggest a need for interventions to prevent deficiency in a range of at risk groups and regions of the world.

【 授权许可】

Unknown