High Vitamin C Status Is Associated with Elevated Mood in Male Tertiary Students.

Juliet Pullar,Anitra Carr,Margreet Vissers,Stephanie Bozonet

doi:10.3390/antiox7070091

Abstract

Micronutrient status is thought to impact on psychological mood due to the role of nutrients in brain structure and function. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association of vitamin C status with mood state in a sample of male tertiary students. We measured fasting plasma vitamin C levels as an indicator of vitamin C status, and subjective mood was determined using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire. One hundred and thirty-nine male students aged 18 to 35 years were recruited from local tertiary institutes in Christchurch, New Zealand. The average plasma vitamin C concentration was 58.2 ± 18.6 (SD) µmol/L and the average total mood disturbance score was 25.5 ± 26.6 (possible score −32 to 200 measuring low to high mood disturbance, respectively). Plasma vitamin C concentration was inversely correlated with total mood disturbance as assessed by POMS (r = −0.181, p < 0.05). Examination of the individual POMS subscales also showed inverse associations of vitamin C status with depression, confusion, and anger. These findings suggest that high vitamin C status may be associated with improved overall mood in young adult males.

Highlights

Evidence is accumulating that increased consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with enhanced mood and psychological well-being [1,2,3,4,5]
These findings suggest that high vitamin C status may be associated with improved overall mood in young adult males
We investigated the relationship between vitamin C status, as assessed by plasma vitamin C

Summary

Introduction

Evidence is accumulating that increased consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with enhanced mood and psychological well-being [1,2,3,4,5]. Known for its antioxidant properties, vitamin C (ascorbate) is a cofactor for a family of biosynthetic and regulatory enzymes with important functions throughout the body. It is required for the synthesis of the monoamine neurotransmitters dopamine, noradrenaline, and possibly serotonin [10], deficiencies and dysregulation of which have been hypothesised to contribute to depression [11]. Vitamin C is a cofactor for enzymes involved in the synthesis of carnitine, which is required for the generation of metabolic energy and has been implicated in the fatigue and lethargy associated with scurvy [10,12]. Epigenetic modifications provide a mechanism by which environmental signals, such as stress, can alter gene expression and neural function and thereby affect behaviour, cognition, and mental health [15]

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