Health & Medicine, New Zealand (Commonwealth Union) – Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in maintaining good health. It is considered an essential nutrient because the human body cannot produce or store it, so it must be obtained through diet or supplements. The significance of vitamin C lies in its various roles and functions within the body, which include, Antioxidant Properties, Immune System Support, Iron Absorption, and anti-cancer activities along with others.
A new study has found that those who smoke require twice the quantity of vitamin C as non-smokers. The study which was conducted at the University of Otago, in Christchurch analyzed roughly 3,000 participants in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2017/2018) for evaluations in which demographics, lifestyle, and health factors have an effect on vitamin C levels.
The findings that appeared in the international journal Nutrients demonstrate that males require roughly 20% more vitamin C to arrive at the same circulating level as females.
Associate Professor Anitra Carr, from the Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, who is the lead author indicated that this is not because of gender; and due to the fact, that on average, males weigh and smoke in higher numbers.
She further indicated that as they explored smokers, a dose-dependent reduction was present for vitamin C levels with an elevating number of cigarettes smoked for a day.
“Furthermore, smokers needed to consume twice as much vitamin C than non-smokers to reach adequate circulating levels of the vitamin.”
She also pointed out that they were not actually heavy smokers, as the average amount of cigarettes smoked each day was lower than ten.
Smoking is known by researchers to bring down vitamin C levels as a result of the increase in oxidative stress brought about in the body. As vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, it is capable of scavenging oxidants produced in cigarette smoke, however, the vitamin gets used up in this process.
Associate Professor Carr stated that body weight has an effect on the amount of vitamin C in a similar manner to smoking.
She indicated that as they looked at the effects of body weight a lowering of vitamin c level was linked to an elevation in body weight.
What was observed was that mainly individuals who weighed under 60kg had the ability to achieve suitable circulating levels of the vitamin.
“And, like smokers, people with higher body weight need to consume twice as much vitamin C than people with lower body weight. This is particularly important in view of the looming global obesity pandemic.”
For individuals with a higher body weight, the vitamin is diluted into an increased volume. In addition to that, obesity is linked to more inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which may further lower the vitamin.
“If an intake of 100 mg/day – which is approximately the average New Zealand intake of vitamin C – is sufficient for non-smokers and people of lower body weight to reach adequate circulating levels of the vitamin, then smokers and people of higher body weight should aim to consume at least 200 mg/day of the vitamin.”
It was indicated in the study that 100mg of vitamin C was equal to around 1 gold kiwifruit or 1.5 oranges.
The consumption of increased amounts of vitamin-rich foods is a simpler way for individuals to elevate their vitamin C consumption. Otherwise, supplements can be readily used and relatively and are not costly according to the study.
“They are safe to take orally because the body can only absorb a certain amount at any one time and any excess that is absorbed but is not needed is excreted in urine.”
