J Korean Pediatr Soc.  2001 May;44(5):501-508.

Whole Blood and Plasma Vitamin C Concentrations in Children of 1-6 Years of Age in the Chinju Area

• Woo HO
• Jun JS
• Park JH
• Kim YS
• Kim EA
• Lim JY
• Choi MB
• Park CH
• Youn HS
• Ko GH
• Baik SC
• Lee WK
• Cho MJ
• Rhee KH

Abstract

PURPOSE: Vitamin C among antioxidants in human is a physiological antioxidant for protection against diseases. We measured the vitamin C concentrations of whole blood and plasma among children in early childhood at normal condition in order to know the presence of vitamin C deficiency.
METHODS
The venous blood was collected from 471 subjects at 1-6 years of ages in Chinju. Concentrations of vitamin C in whole blood and plasma were measured by the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method.
RESULTS
Concentrations of vitamin C in whole blood and plasma were 1.68mg/dL and 0.94mg/dL, respectively. While concentrations of vitamin C in the whole blood and plasma of males were 1.69 mg/dL and 0.92mg/dL, respectively. Those of females, were 1.68mg/dL and 1.00mg/dL, respectively. The concentrations did not significantly differ by gender. Concentrations of vitamin C in plasma were positively correlated with the age of the entire study group and of female(P=0.01). Percentages of subjects with vitamin C concentrations of the whole blood less than 1.0mg/dL were 1.9%, and those of the plasma of below 0.6mg/dL were 20.6%.
CONCLUSION
Concentrations of vitamin C in whole blood and plasma did not show normal distribution. And there were no relationship among age, gender, and vitamin C concentrations at early childhood. A significant number of children in Chinju had suboptimal plasma vitamin C concentration. These findings suggest a need for an increased vitamin C intake in this area.

Keyword

Whole blood; Plasma; Vitamin C; Antioxidant; Child

MeSH Terms

Antioxidants
Ascorbic Acid Deficiency
Ascorbic Acid*
Child*
Female
Gyeongsangnam-do*
Humans
Male
Plasma*
Vitamins*
Antioxidants
Ascorbic Acid
Vitamins