Low Ascorbic Acid Levels Research Articles

THE RELATIONSHIP OF VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY TO DENTAL AND GINGIVAL CONDITIONS IN MENTAL PATIENTS

1. Quantitative vitamin C studies done on mental patients reveal levels considerably lower than normal. 2. These low levels have been, at least partially, traced to the low vitamin C allowances in most institutional diets but undoubtedly also on the unusual food habits of mental patients, depending on their delusions regarding food. 3. A definite correlation has been found between the frequency of dental and gingival conditions in mental patients and their low ascorbic acid levels. 4. No significant differences were found in the various diagnostic groups, except that the lowest findings were in the alcoholic psychoses. 5. It is recommended that hospital diets be supplemented by an adequate vitamin C supply.

VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID) NUTRITION IN BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

The relationship of vitamin C to hypersensitiveness has been the subject of numerous investigations in experimental animals, with conflicting and inconclusive results. The few studies of ascorbic acid and human hypersensitivity have likewise yielded divergent findings. Walzer, 1 in a recent review, concluded that no definite role for vitamin C in the immunologic mechanism of hypersensitiveness had as yet been established. Our interest in this subject was stimulated during a study of vitamin C nutrition in the clinic and hospital population when we noted that a number of patients with bronchial asthma showed a low level of ascorbic acid in the blood plasma. Several reports of the use of ascorbic acid in the treatment of bronchial asthma have appeared, but no studies have been made of the state of vitamin C nutrition prior to therapy. Hochwald 2 found that ascorbic acid administered regularly was valuable in preventing symptoms of bronchial

The level of ascorbic acid in the blood and urine of patients with peptic ulcer

1. Evidence is presented to show that hospitalized patients on ulcer management have lower levels of ascorbic acid in the blood and urine than normal individuals or patients with functional digestive disorders. 2. Evidence suggesting that peptic ulcer patients require greater amount of ascorbic acid is demonstrated by the fact that daily medication of Vitamin patients with peptic ulcer appears to be 50 mg. four times a day. 4. There appears to be no clinical evidence that ascorbic acid in doses large enough to maintain the excretion at the normal level is of any value in the treatment of patients with peptic ulcer with or without hemorrhage. 5. It is suggested that the metabolism of Vitamin C is influenced by activity and that lower blood and urine values are found in patients resting in bed than in active individuals.