As the proportion of the elderly population increases rapidly, interest in musculoskeletal health is also emerging. Here, we investigated how antioxidant vitamin intake and musculoskeletal health are related. Adults aged 50 to 80 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 27.0 kg/m2 were included. Bone mineral density (BMD), lean mass (LM), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and the grip strength and knee extension using hand dynamometer. Nutrient intakes were measured using a 24-hour recall questionnaire. A total of 153 adults (44 men and 109 women) participated in this study. A partial correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between vitamin E and BMD and between vitamin C and LM/Height. Participants were classified into three groups according to whether their vitamin E and C intake met the recommended intake for Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs). The prevalence of having low T-score (< −1.0) and low ASMI (< 7.0 for men and < 5.4 for women) was 51.3% and 15.4% in the group with vitamins C and E intakes below KDRIs. After adjusting for sex, smoking status and energy, protein, vitamin D, and calcium intake, the group with vitamins C and E both below the KDRIs displayed a significantly lower BMD at all test sites and LM/Height compared with vitamin C and/or E intake above the KDRIs groups. We conclude that sufficient intake of vitamin E and C is important for maintaining BMD and lean mass in Korean adults over 50 years of age.
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Oxidative stress in eye lens is one of the main causes of the cataract. Dietary antioxidants including vitamin A and C are therefore known to be associated with the risk of the disease. However, evidences are still lacking in Koreans. This study aimed to examine whether dietary vitamin A and C levels are associated with the cataract, using data of Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2012. A total of 3,344 individuals (599 cases and 2,745 controls) were analyzed in the study. Dietary data was classified into 3 groups following Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans 2015: 1) ≤ estimated average requirements (EAR), 2) EAR-recommended nutrient intake (RNI), and 3) ≥ RNI. Findings suggested normal subjects (controls) had better vitamin A and C nutritional status. Vitamin A and C intakes of normal subjects were significantly higher than those of cataract cases (p < 0.001, respectively). Ratio of subjects who consumed vitamin A and C lower than EAR was higher in cataract cases compared to normal subjects (p < 0.001, respectively). These antioxidant intake levels predicted that having lower level of vitamins lower than EAR increased the odd ratios (ORs) for cataract [for vitamin A: OR, 1.89; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.55–2.31 and for vitamin C: OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.69–2.51]. However, such associations were not retained, when the subjects’ demographic and lifestyle factor were adjusted. In conclusion, vitamin A and C showed a protective effect against cataract. However, subjects' life style and demographic factors nullified the association. More studies are required to verify the true association between dietary antioxidants and risk of cataract in Koreans.
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Although vitamin C supplements were consumed for health maintenance and fatigue recovery, the effects of high doses of vitamin C supplement remains controversial. Our study performed the effects of 100 mg and 2,000 mg vitamin C supplements on plasma and urinary vitamin C concentration in Korean women. Twenty-four women completed the 4 weeks intervention. Anthropometric data, plasma and urinary vitamin C concentrations, superoxide dismutase activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) level, and fatigue severity scale (FSS) were collected, and the statistical analyses compared between- and within-group findings at pre- and post-intervention. Concentrations of vitamin C in plasma and urinary excretion were significantly increased with 100 mg and 2,000 mg of vitamin C supplementation (p < 0.050). TBARS level was decreased significantly with 2,000 mg of vitamin C supplementation (p < 0.050). In addition, FSS was declined significantly in 100 mg of vitamin C supplementation group (p < 0.050). Our result showed that vitamin C supplementation of either 100 mg or 2,000 mg led to an increase in vitamin C concentrations in plasma and vitamin urinary excretion but not statistically significant among groups. TBARS level was decreased in 2,000 mg and FSS was decreased in 100 mg of vitamin C supplementation in Korean women. We suppose that additional clinical trial is needed to examine the effects of vitamin C supplements for a wide range of doses on plasma and urinary vitamin C concentrations in Korean.
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