Evaluation of the daily amount of ascorbic acid supplied by food in France.

The food consumption of a sample of 10,000 French households has been under constant study by the Institut National des Statistiques et Etudes Economiques. Based on the data obtained, a representative model of the daily food consumption has been established with the help of the Nutrition Section of the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale. A composition table was used to define the theoretical amount of natural ascorbic acid contained in these foodstuffs, to this quantity was added the amounts of ascorbic acid incorporated as an additive in these foodstuffs. The latter amount was obtained using the maximum authorized amounts. Natural ascorbic acid plus additive gives the maximum theoretical amount of vitamin C supplied through food consumption. The mean value obtained is approximately 170-200 mg/day between 1965-1974 period. Interesting as they may be, from a nutritional point of view, it would be unrealistic to build upon these theoretical values. A critical analysis of these values based on the results of a food survey we carried out and the technological role played by ascorbic acid, led to the conclusion that food content, with this model of food intake, was somewhat between 56 to 91 mg/day and more probably between 56 to 69 mg/day. Kallner and al. in 1979 suggested that in the healthy non-smoking man the recommended dietary allowance should be 100 mg/day. In connection with this work and with nutritional studies undertaken in various industrial countries, the present study brings up the question of the level of vitamin C supply in certain groups of the French population (old people, pregnant women...).