Lifestyle behaviors and serum vitamin C in the Thai population in Bangkok Metropolitan

Authors

  • Somchai Boonpangrak Center for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 73170, Thailand
  • Tanawut Tantimongcolwat Center for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 73170, Thailand
  • Lertyot Treeratanapiboon Department of Community Medical Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 73170, Thailand
  • Pairoj Leelahakul Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 73170, Thailand
  • Virapong Prachayasittikul Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 73170, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2018-1203

Keywords:

serum vitamin C, vitamin C dietary intake, lifestyle behaviors, smokers, alcohol drinkers, outdoor workers

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the influence of lifestyle behaviors on the vitamin C levels in the circulating blood of the Thai population in Bangkok Metropolitan. The participants (n=250) included community workers (i.e., construction and business office workers) from the Bangkok Metropolitan, and the participants were placed in various behavior and lifestyle groups (Group I: reference; Group II: alcohol drinkers; Group III: outdoor workers; Group IV: smokers; and Group V: combined). The results showed that the lowest and highest vitamin C intakes were 7 and 27 mg/day in Groups IV and III, respectively. Group I (indoor workers free of smoking and drinking), had the highest total serum vitamin C level (39.7 µmol/L), while Group V (outdoor workers with smoking and drinking), had the lowest value (12.5 µmol/L). Furthermore, Group V had the highest prevalence (44 %) of total serum vitamin C deficiency (<11 µmol/L), while Group I had the lowest deficient indication (8 %). The vitamin C dietary intake and total serum levels were positively correlated in the reference group (Spearman's correlation=0.402, p < 0.05) but not in the other four groups. The significant adjusted odds ratio of inadequate total serum vitamin C (< 23 µmol/L) was 2.90 (CI: 1.15, 7.31) in Group IV and 3.73 (CI: 1.42, 9.81) in Group V. Moreover, the tendency to have an inadequate total serum vitamin C level was demonstrated in the following order: Group I < II < III < IV < V. Our results indicated that outdoor workers (Group III) and smokers (Group IV) had a greater likelihood of having a vitamin C deficiency than the reference group. A high percentage of deficiency was clearly observed among the outdoor workers with smoking and drinking behaviors (Group V).

Published

2018-05-16

How to Cite

Boonpangrak, S., Tantimongcolwat, T., Treeratanapiboon, L., Leelahakul, P., & Prachayasittikul, V. (2018). Lifestyle behaviors and serum vitamin C in the Thai population in Bangkok Metropolitan. EXCLI Journal, 17, 452–466. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2018-1203

Issue

Section

Original articles

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