RFSN: Vitamin C deficiency in the body correlates with weight gain

Researchers from the University of Otago in New Zealand have found that vitamin C deficiency in the human body is significantly associated with weight gain. In addition, if you are overweight, the amount of vitamin C in your diet needs to be increased to stay healthy. The results of the study are published in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (CRFSN).

As part of the study, researchers analyzed two large databases containing information on the health of the world's population. These were the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017-2018 (involving 2,828 adults) and the Norfolk European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC) from 1993-1997 (involving 20,692 participants).

The researchers collected information about the participants' weight and assessed the concentration of vitamin C in each person's blood. The results showed that overweight people often had a deficiency of this substance in their bodies. The scientists hypothesized that obesity may accelerate vitamin C metabolism (and its excretion from the body) by triggering low-intensity inflammation that increases oxidative stress (the process of cell damage due to oxidation).
The researchers added that obesity also increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Both of these diseases are characterized by decreased vitamin C levels.

In New Zealand, the World Health Organization's current daily recommendation for vitamin C is 45 mg. This is one of the lowest daily doses in the world. According to scientists, this amount may not be enough for overweight people. According to the researchers, a person weighing 70 kg needs an additional 17 to 22 mg of vitamin C per 10 kg of excess body weight every day.

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