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Vitamin C depletion in healthy adults is associated with impaired mood states and increased perception of fatigue during sub‐maximal walking
Author(s) -
Appel Christy L,
Johnston Carol S,
Huck Corey J,
Beezhold Bonnie L,
Swan Pamela D
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.157.7
Subject(s) - placebo , mood , profile of mood states , medicine , endocrinology , depression (economics) , calorie , psychology , physical therapy , psychiatry , alternative medicine , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Vitamin C (VC) status can impact the synthesis of neurotransmitters and carnitine, a molecule required for energy production from fatty acids. Hence, we examined whether VC depletion was associated with impaired mood states and with perceptions of fatigue during moderate exercise using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire and Borgâs RPE 6â20 scale respectively. In a cross‐sectional study of 78 healthy adults (age=31.0±7.7, BMI=23.6±3.7), men with low VC status (n=15, plasma VC ⤠0.6 mg/dl) had higher tension (+41%, p=0.017) and total mood disturbance (+290%, p=0.013) scores than men with adequate VC status (n=22). In a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial, obese adults followed a calorie‐restricted diet and consumed either placebo (n=10) or 500 mg VC (n=10) capsules daily. After 4 weeks of diet adherence, both groups lost ~4 kg, but plasma VC concentrations (0.63±0.21 and 1.10±0.14 mg/dl, p<0.001) and depression scores (4.9±4.0 and 1.9±2.1, p=0.050) differed for the placebo and VC groups. At week 4, RPE during sub‐maximal walking (mean at 40‐, 50‐, and 60‐min) differed by group (13.23±0.95 and 12.26±0.66, p=0.043 for placebo and VC respectively). These data suggest that VC status is associated with impaired mood states as well as perceptions of fatigue during exercise in lean and obese adults. This research was supported in part by the General Mills, Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition.