LB033 - PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS IN A CLINICAL NUTRITION UNIT

LB033

PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS IN A CLINICAL NUTRITION UNIT

M. Le Gall^1,*

¹finistere, chu, brest, France

 

Rationale: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) plays a crucial role in numerous biological processes, including oxidative metabolism, collagen synthesis, and immune modulation. In hospitalized patients, vitamin C deficiency is common yet frequently underdiagnosed. Previous studies have reported high prevalence rates, reaching up to 47.3% according to Fain (1994). A retrospective internal analysis conducted at the CHRU of Brest between 2008 and 2013 revealed a prevalence of 50.5%.

The primary objective of this study was to assess the current prevalence of vitamin C deficiency among hospitalized patients in a clinical nutrition setting and to identify predictive risk factors

Methods: A prospective, single-center study was conducted from January 1 to June 1, 2013, in the Department of Clinical Nutrition at CHRU Brest.

Inclusion criteria:

        - All patients hospitalized during the study period.

        - Data collection included: age, sex, BMI, clinical symptoms, and reason for hospitalization.

Primary outcome measure:

Plasma vitamin C level. Deficiency was defined as a plasma concentration < 30 µmol/L (or < 5 mg/L).

 

Stastitics with statgv , average, percentage, standard deviation

Results: Demographic data:

        - 197 patients included; 132 vitamin C levels were available.

        - Mean age: 66 ± 17.3 years

        - Mean BMI: 22.5 ± 7.29 kg/m²

        - Male patients: 36%

Prevalence of deficiency:

        - 86 out of 132 patients were deficient, yielding a prevalence of 65.14%.

Analyzed  predictive risk factors:

        1. Sex: Male patients had a higher prevalence of deficiency than females.

        2. Age: The highest prevalence was observed in the 40–60 age group.

        3. BMI: Underweight patients (BMI < 18.5) were particularly affected.

Usual Symptomatology: Symptomatic patients had a significantly increased risk. Most common symptoms among deficient patients included gingivitis (31.4%), hematomas (17.4%), purpura/petechiae (9.3%), melena/skin wounds/iron-deficiency anemia (3.5%), and peripheral neuropathy/confusional syndrome/diarrhea (1.1%).

Reason for hospitalization: Malnutrition, general health deterioration, and certain specific diagnoses were associated with higher deficiency rates

This study confirms a high prevalence of vitamin C deficiency among hospitalized patients in a clinical nutrition unit, exceeding previous literature reports (65.14% vs. 47.3% according to Fain). This increase may be explained by specific characteristics of the studied population, particularly a high proportion of malnourished patients or those with chronic illnesses.

Identified risk factors align with existing literature: male sex and middle age (40–60 years) have been previously described as at-risk by Ginter (2007) and Fain (2004). Symptomatology also appears to be relevant, highlighting the clinical value of targeted vitamin C screening in symptomatic patients.

However, the study has certain methodological limitations, including its single-center design, relatively small sample size, and potential selection bias among tested patients.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates a severe vitamin C deficiency in 65% of patients hospitalized in a clinical nutrition unit at CHRU Brest. The main predictive risk factors identified are:

        - Male sex

        - Age between 40 and 60 years

        - Presence of clinical symptoms (gingivitis, hematomas, purpura)

Further research is warranted, particularly regarding the role of obesity, cancer, and other comorbidities in the development of this deficiency, as suggested by findings from the SUVIMAX study (2003).
A new study will be to supplement every man between 40 and 60 years for wound surgery.

References: Fain O. (2003), Fain O. (2004), Ginter E. (2007), Hirschmann JV. (1999), Blanchard et al. (1997), Padayatty SJ et al. (2004), Mandl J et al. (2009), Meyer F et al. (2005), SU.VI.MAX Study (2003), etc.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared