Poor vitamin C status is associated with increased depression symptoms following
acute illness in older people.
Author(s): Gariballa S(1).
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates
University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates, and University of Sheffield, Sheffield,
United Kingdom.
Publication date & source: 2014, Int J Vitam Nutr Res. , 84(1-2):12-7
BACKGROUND: Vitamin C has important physical and mental health benefits and
plasma concentrations reflect recent intakes. Inflammation associated with any
acute illness can lead to poor appetite and low food intake in older people. The
aims of this report were to assess the prevalence and clinical significance of
vitamin C deficiency among hospitalized acutely-ill older patients.
METHODS: Three hundred and twenty two patients (152 [47%] female), aged 65 yrs.
and over who took part in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial
had their nutritional status assessed from anthropometric, hematological and
biochemical data at baseline, and after 6 weeks and 6 months. Vitamin C was
measured using a fluorimetric technique and logistic regression analysis was
performed to determine the influence of a number of clinical indicators,
including tissue inflammation measured using C-reactive protein on vitamin C
concentrations. Clinical outcome measures including symptoms of depression were
also compared between patients with vitamin C deficiency and those with normal
levels.
RESULTS: At baseline, 116 (36%) patients had a vitamin C concentration below 11
µmol/L indicating biochemical depletion. The figures at 6 weeks and 6 months were
28 (22%) and 44 (28%) patients, respectively. Older age, male gender, smoking,
increased dependency and tissue inflammation were associated with lower vitamin C
concentrations. Patients with vitamin C biochemical depletion had significantly
increased symptoms of depression compared with those with higher concentrations
at baseline (p=0.035) and at 6 weeks (p=0.028).
CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of older patients had sub-optimal vitamin C status
and this was associated with increased symptoms of depression.
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