title: Ascorbate and exercise in the Northern Ireland population.
abstract: The relationship between physical activity, physical fitness and serum ascorbate was examined in the Northern Ireland Health and Activity Survey. This was a cross sectional population study (n = 1600), using a two stage probability sample, of the population of N. Ireland. Physical activity profile was recorded by computer assisted interview and physical fitness was determined by estimation of VO2 max by extrapolation from submaximal oxygen uptake. Serum ascorbate was measured using a colorimetric reaction of 2,4 dinitrophenylhydrazine with dehydroascorbate. Mean serum ascorbate was greater in females than males (p < 0.001), and was lower in smokers than non-smokers in both males (p = 0.01) and females (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant relationship between serum ascorbate and age, social class, body mass index, physical activity or physical fitness in males but there was a relationship with age (p < 0.01) and physical fitness (p < 0.05) in females.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, N. Ireland.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacAuley
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: McCrum
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stott
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mulholland
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Boreham
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duly
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Trinick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003124:Colorimetry; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009660:Northern Ireland; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid