TitleToward a new recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C based on antioxidant and health effects in humans.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1999
AuthorsCarr AC, Frei B
JournalAm J Clin Nutr
Volume69
Issue6
Pagination1086-107
Date Published1999 Jun
ISSN0002-9165
KeywordsAdult, Antioxidants, Ascorbic Acid, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cataract, Clinical Trials as Topic, Female, Humans, Lipid Peroxidation, Male, Neoplasms, Nutrition Policy, Scurvy
Abstract

The current recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin C for adult nonsmoking men and women is 60 mg/d, which is based on a mean requirement of 46 mg/d to prevent the deficiency disease scurvy. However, recent scientific evidence indicates that an increased intake of vitamin C is associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and cataract, probably through antioxidant mechanisms. It is likely that the amount of vitamin C required to prevent scurvy is not sufficient to optimally protect against these diseases. Because the RDA is defined as "the average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all healthy individuals in a group," it is appropriate to reevaluate the RDA for vitamin C. Therefore, we reviewed the biochemical, clinical, and epidemiologic evidence to date for a role of vitamin C in chronic disease prevention. The totality of the reviewed data suggests that an intake of 90-100 mg vitamin C/d is required for optimum reduction of chronic disease risk in nonsmoking men and women. This amount is about twice the amount on which the current RDA for vitamin C is based, suggesting a new RDA of 120 mg vitamin C/d.

DOI10.1093/ajcn/69.6.1086
Alternate JournalAm. J. Clin. Nutr.
PubMed ID10357726
Grant ListHL-49954 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
HL-56170 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States