Passive smoking tied to vitamin C loss."If you must smoke, please give me a vitamin C vitamin C or ascorbic acid Water-soluble organic compound important in animal metabolism. Most animals produce it in their bodies, but humans, other primates, and guinea pigs need it in the diet to prevent scurvy. ? Nonsmokers may be justified in making this strange-sounding request the next time someone nearby lights up. A new study suggests that regular exposure to tobacco smoke decreases the body's stores of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), an important antioxidant antioxidant, substance that prevents or slows the breakdown of another substance by oxygen. Synthetic and natural antioxidants are used to slow the deterioration of gasoline and rubber, and such antioxidants as vitamin C (ascorbic acid), butylated hydroxytoluene . Previous research had shown only that smoking depletes vitamin C in smokers. In fact, cigarette smoke resulted in vitamin C deficiencies in some of the study's nonsmoking non·smok·ing adj. 1. Not engaging in the smoking of tobacco: nonsmoking passengers. 2. Designated or reserved for nonsmokers: the nonsmoking section of a restaurant. volunteers, reports Diane L. Tribble of the Lawrence Berkeley (Calif.) Laboratory and her colleagues. The study divided 141 women age 24 to 45 into three groups. The 50 nonsmokers who had little exposure to cigarette smoke had normal vitamin C concentrations in their blood. But five of the 44 nonsmokers regularly exposed to cigarette smoke passive smokers - had vitamin C deficiencies. Even passive smokers not found deficient had lower concentrations of the vitamin than their smoke-free peers. Both groups of nonsmokers consumed similar amounts of vitamin C. Of the 47 smokers, 11 had vitamin C deficiencies, but they ingested in·gest tr.v. in·gest·ed, in·gest·ing, in·gests 1. To take into the body by the mouth for digestion or absorption. See Synonyms at eat. 2. only about one-fourth as much of the vitamin as the nonsmokers. Most of the passive smokers were exposed to cigarette smoke about 20 hours a week, though some reported as many as 95 hours of weekly exposure, the researchers report in the December AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION Clinical nutrition The use of diet and nutritional supplements as a way to enhance health prevent disease. Mentioned in: Naturopathic Medicine . The effects of cigarette smoke on vitamin C metabolism concern researchers, in part because the vitamin may help protect the body against the diseases linked to smoking (SN: 6/8/91, p. 358). Oxidants in cigarette smoke speed up the metabolic turnover of ascorbic acid, thereby lowering the body's supplies, Tribble and her colleagues explain. Passive smokers need more than the recommended dietary allowance Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are quantities of nutrients in the diet that are required to maintain good health in people. (RDA RDA abbr. recommended daily allowance Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are quantities of nutrients in the diet that are required to maintain good health in people. ) of vitamin C to make up for their losses, the researchers contend. Only those who consumed more than 250 milligrams of the vitamin per day had vitamin C concentrations similar to those of people only rarely exposed to smoke. |
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