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Higher dietary vitamin C intake is associated with higher grip strength in adults: The Framingham Offspring Study
Author(s) -
Sahni Shivani,
Jacques Paul F.,
Dufour Alyssa B.,
Kiel Douglas P.,
McLean Robert R.,
Hannan Marian T.
Publication year - 2016
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.30.1_supplement.678.1
Subject(s) - grip strength , medicine , offspring , vitamin , vitamin e , framingham heart study , hand strength , vitamin d and neurology , physiology , coenzyme q10 , endocrinology , cohort , antioxidant , framingham risk score , pregnancy , biology , biochemistry , disease , genetics
Objective Oxidative stress has been implicated as a central mechanism of age‐related decline in muscle. Vitamin C is important for skeletal muscle due to its dual role as an antioxidant and as an enzyme cofactor for collagen and carnitine biosynthesis. Carnitine plays a critical role in energy production by transporting long‐chain fatty acids into the mitochondria so they can be oxidized. Two non‐US studies of older adults have related higher vitamin C status or intake with higher physical strength and performance. Therefore, we determined the cross‐sectional association of dietary vitamin C with grip strength in men and women from the Framingham Offspring Cohort. Methods 2,184 men and women completed a Willett's food frequency questionnaire (in either 1996–1998 or 1999–2001) and had grip strength measured using an adjustable Jamar isometric hand‐held dynamometer in 1999–2001 (kg, max of 2 trials). We used sex‐specific linear regression to calculate beta coefficients and P values for the association between dietary vitamin C and grip strength adjusting for age, weight, height, total energy intake (residual method), physical activity and vitamin C supplement use (yes/no). Results Mean age was 58.4±8.8y (range 29–83y). Median vitamin C intake from diet was 184.5±326.3 mg/d (men) and 205.6±343.4 mg/d (women). Mean grip strength was 40.4±9.7 kg (men) and 23.4±6.0 kg (women). Higher dietary vitamin C was associated with higher grip strength after adjustment for relevant covariates [β±SE (P value) for men: 0.009±0.003 (P=0.007) and for women: 0.0035±0.002 (P=0.06)]. When examined in tertiles, women in highest tertile of dietary vitamin C (T3, median intake 219.7 mg/d) had higher grip strength compared to women in the lowest tertile (T1, median intake 75.4 mg/d) of intake (P trend=0.009). Similar patterns of results were seen in men [Median intake: 220.9 mg/d (T3) and 73.8 mg/d (T1), P trend=0.04]. Conclusions These findings suggest that higher dietary vitamin C may be beneficial for muscle strength in adult men and women. Future research should determine the most important mechanisms underlying these significant epidemiologic associations. Support or Funding Information The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Grants in Aid Program (GAP) Award, NIH AR # 053205, FHS HHSN268201500001I and R01AR041398. Adjusted least square mean grip strength (kg) by tertiles of dietary vitamin C (mg/d).Least square means of grip strength (kg) by tertiles of vitamin C intake (mg/d) P TrendTertile 1 Tertile 2 Tertile 3Men 39.82±0.49 40.16±0.47 41.32±0.49 † 0.04Women 23.02±0.26 23.30±0.24 24.02±0.26 * 0.009Adjusted for age, weight, height, total energy intake (residual method), physical activity and vitamin C supplement use (yes/no), * P<0.05 compared to T1 and † P<0.05 compared to T1.