HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hampl, J. S Articles by Johnston, C. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hampl, J. S Articles by Johnston, C. S.

Intakes of Vitamin C, Vegetables and Fruits: Which Schoolchildren Are at Risk?

Graduate Program in Human Nutrition, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona

Address reprint requests to: Jeffrey S Hampl, PhD, RD, Graduate Program in Human Nutrition, Arizona State University, Box 872502, Tempe, AZ 85287-2502

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine vitamin C intakes among American schoolchildren. We investigated the leading sources of vitamin C in children’s diets, the leading vegetables and fruits consumed by children and differences in dietary intake associated with vitamin C consumption.

Methods: Data from 1,350 7- to 12-year-old and 908 13- to 18-year-old schoolchildren were obtained from the 1994–1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII). The children were stratified by age and gender and then split into three vitamin C consumption groups based upon two 24-hour recalls: low (0 to 30.0 mg), marginal (30.1 to 59.9 mg), and desirable (>60.0 mg). Data were analyzed by tabulation and by ANOVA followed by post hoc Scheffe’s test. Outcome measures included food groups and energy-adjusted intakes of micro- and macronutrients.

Results: Among the 7- to 12-year-olds, 12% of boys and 13% of girls had mean vitamin C intakes that were less than 30 mg/day, and, among 13- to 18-year-olds, 14% of boys and 20% of girls had low vitamin C intakes. In addition to consuming significantly more vitamin C, children with desirable vitamin C intakes also consumed significantly more (p <0.001) energy-adjusted folate and vitamin B₆; children with low vitamin C intakes tended to have significantly greater (p <0.001) energy-adjusted intakes of fat and saturated fat. Children with desirable vitamin C intakes consumed significantly more (p <0.006) high-vitamin C fruit juice, low-vitamin C vegetables and whole milk. Children with low vitamin C intakes on average consumed two daily servings of vegetables and fruits, of which less than of a serving was citrus, while children with desirable vitamin C intakes consumed an average of one daily serving of citrus.

Conclusions: A considerable number of children drastically under-consumed vitamin C and total vegetables and fruits. Overall, children with desirable vitamin C intakes had healthier diets, including more milk and vegetables, than did their peers with low vitamin C intakes. Health care professionals should continue to promote at least five daily servings of vegetables and fruits and should advise parents that at least one of these should be rich in vitamin C.

Key words: children, vitamin C, food consumption surveys, diet

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. A. Nicklas, C. E. O'Neil, and R. Kleinman Association Between 100% Juice Consumption and Nutrient Intake and Weight of Children Aged 2 to 11 Years Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, June 1, 2008; 162(6): 557 - 565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S Hampl, C. A. Taylor, and C. S. Johnston Vitamin C Deficiency and Depletion in the United States: The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988 to 1994 Am J Public Health, May 1, 2004; 94(5): 870 - 875. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. S. Krogholm, J. Haraldsdottir, P. Knuthsen, and S. E. Rasmussen Urinary Total Flavonoid Excretion but Not 4-Pyridoxic Acid or Potassium Can Be Used as a Biomarker for the Intake of Fruits and Vegetables J. Nutr., February 1, 2004; 134(2): 445 - 451. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]