title: Vitamin C load test in elderly subjects.
abstract: Ascorbic acid fasting serum levels and levels after a test dose were carried out in a group of elderly subjects: nine men with 70 +/- 6 years and six women 74 +/- 7 years old. They live in the same old folks home and ate similar food. Their ascorbic acid intake was found to be around 20 mg/day. Fasting serum levels found lower values in the women. A load test showed a small increase in the hourly samples, supporting low tissue reserves of the vitamin. Factors such as low intake, absorption, metabolism, body mass and/or excretion of the vitamin in elderly population could explain these results. A marginal vitamin C deficiency is believed to be present in the group and extra ascorbic acid food supply seems to be recommended for these subjects.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto-USP, Brazil.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: M do R
authors.initials: Mdo R
authors.lastname: Unamuno
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Marchini
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid