Nutritional status in a healthy elderly population: vitamin C.

Vitamin C status in 270 free-living and healthy elderly was determined from dietary intakes and plasma levels of ascorbic acid. Mean dietary intake for women (n = 145) was 137 and 142 mg/day for men (n = 125). The median intake of supplemental ascorbic acid for women was 355 mg/day (n = 85) and 500 mg/day (n = 70) for men. The mean plasma ascorbic acid level for women was 1.30 mg/dl and was significantly higher than for men, 1.13 mg/dl. Less than 2% were at risk for developing clinical symptoms of hypovitaminosis C. It was estimated that intakes needed to maintain a plasma ascorbic acid level of 1.0 mg/dl would be 75 mg/day for women and 150 mg/day for men. Our data suggest that a different recommended dietary allowance for ascorbic acid should be considered for men and women.