Prevalence of inadequate and suboptimal serum ascorbic acid concentrations among children and adolescents in the United States (2003‐2006) (LB422)

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Background: Despite the well‐established need of vitamin C for optimal health, achieving adequate dietary intake based on government recommendations remains a challenge in the United States.Objective: To examine serum ascorbic acid concentrations among a sample of non pregnant/lactating children and adolescents (<20y) with available blood samples and sociodemographic data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2003‐2006).Methods: Ascorbic acid concentrations were assayed by isocratic reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography method with electrochemical detection. Inadequate (<50 µmol/L) and suboptimal (<70 µmol/L) serum ascorbic acid concentrations were defined according to recommendations from the Institute of Medicine and Linus Pauling Institute investigators, respectively. Reported values accounted for complex survey design (sampling weights, cluster, strata).Results: Among children and adolescents (4‐19y; n=5576), 28.6% had inadequate serum concentrations of ascorbic acid. Compared to individuals with no reported supplement use (32.5%; n=4376), a lower prevalence of inadequate serum concentrations of ascorbic acid was observed among those using supplements (19.1%; n=1200; p<0.01). 59.4% of individuals had suboptimal serum concentrations of ascorbic acid. A greater proportion of individuals with no supplement use (64.1%) had suboptimal serum concentrations, relative to those using supplements (48.0%; p<0.01).Conclusions: Lower prevalences of inadequate and suboptimal serum concentrations of ascorbic acid were observed among children and adolescents reporting any dietary supplement use.