[Nutrition characteristics and ascorbic acid requirements in students living in an arid zone].

Data are presented on the actual nutrition and providing with vitamin C in students of the V. I. Lenin Pedagogical Institute (Ashkhabad, Turkmenia). Twenty male students aged 18-24 years were investigated during the examination session in summer. Group 1 (12 subjects) received an additional dose of ascorbic acid (150 mg/day), group 2 (8 subjects) served as control. Diversion from the principles of the rational nutrition was established in the actual nutrition of the students investigated: in summer, due to low appetite, students eat low amounts of meat products, that results in the decreased content of animal proteins and fats in their daily rations as compared to the values recommended for this group of population. Vitamin C deficiency was also detected in the students studied. Additional intake of ascorbic acid in a dose of 150 mg/day has normalized their providing with this vitamin.