title: The cause and correction of low blood vitamin C concentrations in the elderly.
abstract: Chronically sick elderly women had low intakes and low blood concentrations of vitamin C. Small dietary supplements of vitamin C increased the concentration of vitamin C in their plasma and leucocytes to those found in both the active elderly and the young. These findings confirm that low concentrations of vitamin C in the institutionalized and chronically sick elderly are primarily due to poor intake and can be easily corrected by dietary changes. The case for increasing the intake of vitamin C in these patients is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008137:Longitudinal Studies
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid