Plasma Ascorbic Acid Levels Inversely Related to Abdominal Obesity

CAMBRIDGE, England--The waist-to-hip ratio in more than 19,000 British men and women was found to be inversely related to plasma ascorbic acid levels, independent of body mass index (BMI) and only partially explained by intake of ascorbic acid. In the prospective investigation, coordinated by the University of Cambridge, researchers compared plasma ascorbic acid levels with abdominal obesity, and further examined ascorbic acid intake (through a seven-day food diary) for more than 8,000 of the participants. They found the waist-to-hip ratio was inversely related to plasma ascorbic acid concentrations, independent of BMI, age, use of dietary supplements, cigarette smoking and socioeconomic group. Waist and hip circumferences also showed opposite associations with plasma ascorbic acid concentrations. Dietary ascorbic acid intake only partly explained the associations. The researchers concluded differences in diet, lifestyle and oxidative stress in the body may impact fat distribution and plasma ascorbic acid concentrations.

The study appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (82, 6:1203-9, 2005).

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