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Vitamin C deficiency in low‐income persons in the United States: 2003–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
Author(s) -
Schleicher Rosemary L,
Carroll Margaret D,
Lacher David A
Publication year - 2010
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.24.1_supplement.221.1
Subject(s) - national health and nutrition examination survey , medicine , demography , family income , vitamin , low income , logistic regression , poverty , environmental health , population , socioeconomics , sociology , economics , economic growth
Low‐income adults are at increased risk for vitamin C deficiency. NHANES 2003–2006 data were used to assess risk factors such as obesity, smoking, and/or low vitamin C intake. Income status was defined using the poverty‐income ratio (PIR), which was calculated by dividing family income by a poverty threshold that is specific for family size. Low, medium and high incomes were defined as PIR <1, 1 to <3, and ≥3, respectively. Trend analysis was used to test for significance. Low‐income adults were more likely to be vitamin C deficient than medium‐ or high‐income adults (OR: 1.4, 2.1; p<0.001) and equally likely to be obese as those with medium or high incomes (35%, 35%, 32%; p=0.11). Percent of adult smokers (serum cotinine >10 ng/mL) decreased linearly (41%, 31%, 25%; p<0.001) with increasing income category. Percent of adults with one‐day dietary intake of vitamin C < estimated average requirement (EAR) decreased linearly (61%, 58%, 55%; p<0.05) with increasing income category. Only 26% of low‐income adults used any vitamin C‐containing supplements in the previous 30 days compared with 39% of medium‐ and 53% of high‐income adults (p<0.001). Race/ethnicity, gender and age were also considered in a multiple logistic regression model. Poor diet, non‐use of vitamin C‐containing supplements, smoking and being non‐Hispanic white were major factors associated with vitamin C deficiency among low‐income persons (p<0.01).