Skip to main content
PMC home page
American Journal of Public Health logoLink to American Journal of Public Health
. 1989 Feb;79(2):158–162. doi: 10.2105/ajph.79.2.158

The influence of smoking on vitamin C status in adults.

G Schectman 1, J C Byrd 1, H W Gruchow 1
PMCID: PMC1349925  PMID: 2913833

Abstract

To further define the relation between smoking and vitamin C status, the dietary and serum vitamin C levels of 11,592 respondents in the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II) were analyzed. Smokers of 20 cigarettes daily had the lowest vitamin C dietary intake (79 mg, 95% CI:73, 84) and serum levels (0.82 mg/dl, 95% CI: 0.77, 0.86; 46.6 mumol/L, 95% CI: 43.7, 48.8), while smokers of 1-19 cigarettes daily had decreased vitamin C intake (97 mg; 95% CI: 90, 104 mg) and serum levels (0.97 mg/dl, 95% CI: 0.92, 1.03; 55.1 mumol/L, 95% CI: 52.2, 58.5) compared to respondents who had never smoked (109 mg, 95% CI: 105, 113 and 1.15 mg/dl, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.18; 65.3 mumol/L, 95% CI: 63.0, 67.0, respectively). This inverse association between both intake and serum levels of vitamin C and smoking was independent of age, sex, body weight, race, and alcoholic beverage consumption. Following further adjustment for dietary vitamin C intake, the negative correlation between cigarette smoking and serum vitamin C levels persisted. The risk of severe hypovitaminosis C (serum levels less than or equal to 0.2 mg/dl; 11.4 mumol/L) was increased in smokers, particularly when not accompanied by vitamin supplementation (odds ratio 3.0, 95% CI: 2.5, 3.6). These data suggest that even though smoking adversely affects preferences for vitamin C rich foods, the inverse association between smoking and serum vitamin C levels occurs independently of dietary intake.

Full text

PDF
158

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Andrews J., Brook M. Leucocyte-vitamin-C content and clinical signs in the elderly. Lancet. 1966 Jun 18;1(7451):1350–1351. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(66)92139-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Baines M. Vitamin C and exposure to alcohol. Int J Vitam Nutr Res Suppl. 1982;23:287–293. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Basu T. K. Possible toxicological aspects of megadoses of ascorbic acid. Chem Biol Interact. 1977 Feb;16(2):247–250. doi: 10.1016/0009-2797(77)90134-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Block G. A review of validations of dietary assessment methods. Am J Epidemiol. 1982 Apr;115(4):492–505. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113331. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Brook M., Grimshaw J. J. Vitamin C concentration of plasma and leukocytes as related to smoking habit, age, and sex of humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 1968 Nov;21(11):1254–1258. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/21.11.1254. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Chow C. K., Thacker R. R., Changchit C., Bridges R. B., Rehm S. R., Humble J., Turbek J. Lower levels of vitamin C and carotenes in plasma of cigarette smokers. J Am Coll Nutr. 1986;5(3):305–312. doi: 10.1080/07315724.1986.10720134. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Davies H. E., Davies J. E., Hughes R. E., Jones E. Studies on the absorption of L-xyloascorbic acid (vitamin C) in young and elderly subjects. Hum Nutr Clin Nutr. 1984 Nov;38(6):469–471. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Fehily A. M., Phillips K. M., Yarnell J. W. Diet, smoking, social class, and body mass index in the Caerphilly Heart Disease Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 1984 Oct;40(4):827–833. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/40.4.827. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Fisher M., Gordon T. The relation of drinking and smoking habits to diet: the Lipid Research Clinics Prevalence Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 1985 Mar;41(3):623–630. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/41.3.623. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Forthofer R. N. Investigation of nonresponse bias in NHANES II. Am J Epidemiol. 1983 Apr;117(4):507–515. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113568. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. GOLDBERG A. The anaemia of scurvy. Q J Med. 1963 Jan;32:51–64. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Garry P. J., Goodwin J. S., Hunt W. C., Gilbert B. A. Nutritional status in a healthy elderly population: vitamin C. Am J Clin Nutr. 1982 Aug;36(2):332–339. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/36.2.332. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Grunberg N. E. The effects of nicotine and cigarette smoking on food consumption and taste preferences. Addict Behav. 1982;7(4):317–331. doi: 10.1016/0306-4603(82)90001-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hines J. D. Letter: Ascorbic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency. JAMA. 1975 Oct 6;234(1):24–24. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hodges R. E., Hood J., Canham J. E., Sauberlich H. E., Baker E. M. Clinical manifestations of ascorbic acid deficiency in man. Am J Clin Nutr. 1971 Apr;24(4):432–443. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/24.4.432. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Hornig D. H., Glatthaar B. E. Vitamin C and smoking: increased requirement of smokers. Int J Vitam Nutr Res Suppl. 1985;27:139–155. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Kallner A. B., Hartmann D., Hornig D. H. On the requirements of ascorbic acid in man: steady-state turnover and body pool in smokers. Am J Clin Nutr. 1981 Jul;34(7):1347–1355. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/34.7.1347. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Kevany J., Jessop W., Goldsmith A. The effect of smoking on ascorbic acid and serum cholesterol in adult males. Ir J Med Sci. 1975 Dec;144(12):474–477. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Kinsman R. A., Hood J. Some behavioral effects of ascorbic acid deficiency. Am J Clin Nutr. 1971 Apr;24(4):455–464. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/24.4.455. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Krasner N., Dow J., Moore M. R., Goldberg A. Ascorbic-acid saturation and ethanol metabolism. Lancet. 1974 Sep 21;2(7882):693–695. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(74)93266-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Lamden M. P. Dangers of massive vitamin C intake. N Engl J Med. 1971 Feb 11;284(6):336–337. doi: 10.1056/nejm197102112840625. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Leggott P. J., Robertson P. B., Rothman D. L., Murray P. A., Jacob R. A. The effect of controlled ascorbic acid depletion and supplementation on periodontal health. J Periodontol. 1986 Aug;57(8):480–485. doi: 10.1902/jop.1986.57.8.480. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Loh H. S., Watters K., Wilson C. W. The effects of aspirin on the metabolic availability of ascorbic acid in human beings. J Clin Pharmacol. 1973 Nov-Dec;13(11):480–486. doi: 10.1002/j.1552-4604.1973.tb00203.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. McCORMICK W. J. Ascorbic acid as a chemotherapeutic agent. Arch Pediatr. 1952 Apr;69(4):151–155. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. McClean H. E., Dodds P. M., Abernethy M. H., Stewart A. W., Beaven D. W. Vitamin C concentration in plasma and leucocytes of men related to age and smoking habit. N Z Med J. 1976 Apr 14;83(561):226–229. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Newton H. M., Schorah C. J., Habibzadeh N., Morgan D. B., Hullin R. P. The cause and correction of low blood vitamin C concentrations in the elderly. Am J Clin Nutr. 1985 Oct;42(4):656–659. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/42.4.656. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Pelletier O. Smoking and vitamin C levels in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 1968 Nov;21(11):1259–1267. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/21.11.1259. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Pelletier O. Vitamin C status of cigarette smokers and nonsmokers. Am J Clin Nutr. 1970 May;23(5):520–524. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/23.5.520. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Reuler J. B., Broudy V. C., Cooney T. G. Adult scurvy. JAMA. 1985 Feb 8;253(6):805–807. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Schorah C. J., Newill A., Scott D. L., Morgan D. B. Clinical effects of vitamin C in elderly inpatients with low blood-vitamin-C levels. Lancet. 1979 Feb 24;1(8113):403–405. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)90882-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Smith J. L., Hodges R. E. Serum levels of vitamin C in relation to dietary and supplemental intake of vitamin C in smokers and nonsmokers. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1987;498:144–152. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1987.tb23758.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Smithard D. J., Langman M. J. Vitamin C and drug metabolism. Br Med J. 1977 Apr 16;1(6067):1029–1030. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.6067.1029-b. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Van Steirteghem A. C., Robertson E. A., Young D. S. Influence of large doses of ascorbic acid on laboratory test results. Clin Chem. 1978 Jan;24(1):54–57. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from American Journal of Public Health are provided here courtesy of American Public Health Association

RESOURCES