title: Gender differences in the relationship between vitamin C and abdominal obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin C is a commonly used antioxidant supplement; however, its effects on obesity and fat distribution are equivocal. We examined nationally representative data to determine whether intake of vitamin C is related to abdominal obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 16,414 adults (58 % women) from the 2007 - 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in the analysis. Vitamin C intake was calculated using 24-hour recalls and categorized into quintiles. The multivariate models in logistic regression analysis were adjusted for age, energy intake, sodium intake, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, education, income, pre-existing disease conditions, survey year, and menopausal status (in women only).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the lowest quintile (Q1) of vitamin C intake, the adjusted odds ratios of Q2, Q3, Q4, and Q5 for abdominal adiposity were 0.92, 0.86, 0.81, and 0.70, respectively, in women (p for trend = 0.0007). This association was maintained after adjusting for the confounding factors; however, we observed no association between intake of vitamin C and abdominal obesity in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin C intake showed a negative association with abdominal obesity in women. Further research is warranted on the association between and the mechanism of vitamin C in abdominal obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Kyu
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Anyang, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hong Ji
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Anyang, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yu-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Paek
authors.affiliation: Department of Food & Nutrition, Eulji University, Seongnam, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hae-Jeung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Koreans; abdominal obesity; adult; vitamin C intake