title: Vitamin C status of Canadian adults: Findings from the 2012/2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although vitamin C is not produced in the body, it is important for many biochemical and physiological functions. Little is known about the current vitamin C status of Canadians. This study describes the correlates of vitamin C status in a nationally representative sample of adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data are from the 2012/2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Plasma vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) concentrations were measured among a fasting subsample of respondents aged 20 to 79 (n = 1,615). Vitamin C status, prevalence of deficiency (plasma vitamin C < 11 μmol/L), and use of vitamin C-containing supplements were estimated. Multivariate regression models were used to examine associations between vitamin C status and sociodemographic characteristics, smoking, body mass index, supplement use, and consumption of fruit juice and citrus fruit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean plasma vitamin C concentration of adults aged 20 to 79 was 53 μmol/L; fewer than 3% were vitamin C-deficient. Almost 22% took a vitamin C-containing supplement. Concentrations were lower among smokers and people who were obese, and higher among vitamin C supplement users and fruit juice and citrus fruit consumers. Multivariate models showed that supplement use was the strongest and most consistent predictor of vitamin C status; fruit juice and citrus fruit consumption were predictors only among populations with lower vitamin C concentrations (for example, smokers, obese).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few Canadians were vitamin C-deficient. Smokers and people with a higher BMI were most at risk of lower vitamin C concentrations; concentrations were higher among supplement users and consumers of fruit juice and citrus fruit.
authors.affiliation: Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Kellie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Langlois
authors.affiliation: Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Cynthia K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Colapinto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Ascorbic acid; BMI; citrus; deficient; fruit; obesity; smoking; supplement