A Lingual Vitamin C Test: V A Study in Dietary Relationships

Summary: The daily intake of citrus juices, oranges, and vitamin supplements along with the plasma ascorbic acid level, intradermal time, and lingual vitamin C test scores were studied in 266 subjects. The evidence suggests, in general, that there is a correlation between vitamin C state and daily vitamin C consumption. This is particularly true under fasting conditions and more especially when plasma ascorbic acid is utilized as the vitamin C measure.

Introduction

Earlier reports in this series demonstrated the constancy and reproducibility of the lingual vitamin C test,^1,2 and the relationship of this test procedure to plasma ascorbic acid level³ and intradermal time.⁴ This, the fifth release in the series, is designed to study the relationship of the lingual vitamin C test with the daily dietary intake of vitamin C.

Method of Investigation

Two hundred sixty-two subjects participated in this experiment. The lingual test as previously described, the intradermal test procedure as earlier reported^5-9 and the plasma ascorbic acid level as formerly outlined¹⁰ were performed in the fasting state in 102 of the subjects and under nonfasting (two hour postprandial) conditions in 160 individuals.

Table 1 summarizes the relationships for the various vitamin C parameters in the subjects consuming, on a daily basis, either orange juice, oranges, or vitamin supplements. It will be noted that 42 (41%) of the 102 subjects did not report a daily consumption of orange juice. Examination of Table 1 shows that, in those consuming and not consuming orange juice daily, the plasma ascorbic acid levels and the lingual times are significantly different. Specifically, in those consuming orange juice on a daily basis, the plasma level is statistically significantly higher. Table 1 shows no differences in plasma ascorbic level, intradermal time, and lingual test time with orange intake. It is evident from Table 1 that the 25 subjects consuming a daily vitamin supplement show statistically significantly different plasma ascorbic acid levels, intradermal times, and lingual times than those not consuming a daily vitamin preparation.

 

Table 1: Relationship of fasting vitamin C state and vitamin consumption

	Negative	Positive	P
Daily orange juice consumption Plasma ascorbic acid Intradermal time Lingual time  Daily orange consumption Plasma ascorbic acid Intradermal time Lingual time Daily vitamin supplement Plasma ascorbic acid  Intradermal time Lingual time	(42) 0.6 ± 0.3 (42) 29.3 ± 10.2 (42) 29.3 ± 10.0   (73) 0.7 ± 0.3 (73) 27.8 ± 7.8 (73) 25.7 ± 8.9   (77) 0.7 ± 0.3 (77) 28.5 ± 8.4 (77) 28.4 ± 9.5	(60) 0.8 ± 0.3 (60) 26.0 ± 6.4 (60) 24.1 ± 8.5   (29) 0.7 ± 0.3 (29) 26.2 ± 9.5 (29) 27.5 ± 10.8   (25) 0.9 ± 0.2 (25) 23.9 ± 6.9 (25) 19.7 ± 5.6	< 0.001* > 0.050 < 0.010*   > 0.500 > 0.400 > 0.400   < 0.001* < 0.025* < 0.001*

* statistically significant (sample size in brackets)

 

Table 2 summarizes similar relationships of the various vitamin C parameters under nonfasting conditions. With regard to the relationship of vitamin C state to daily orange juice consumption, the findings differ from those under fasting conditions by virtue of the fact that, under postprandial circumstances, the lingual time is not significantly different. With regard to orange consumption, there is a statistically significant difference in plasma ascorbic acid level and intradermal time under nonfasting conditions. Finally, the lingual time is not significantly different with and without vitamin supplementation under nonfasting circumstances.

 

Table 2: Relationship of nonfasting vitamin C state and vitamin consumption

	Negative	Positive	P
Daily orange juice consumption Plasma ascorbic acid Intradermal time Lingual time  Daily orange consumption Plasma ascorbic acid Intradermal time Lingual time Daily vitamin supplement Plasma ascorbic acid  Intradermal time Lingual time	(64) 0.3 ± 0.2 (64) 39.1 ± 10.8 (64) 27.9 ± 11.2   (139) 0.5 ± 0.3 (139) 35.9 ± 11.0 (139) 26.4 ± 11.1   (140) 0.4 ± 0.3 (140) 35.8 ± 11.1 (140) 26.3 ± 11.0	(96) 0.6 ± 0.3 (96) 32.6 ± 10.2 (96) 25.4 ± 10.8   (21) 0.6 ± 0.3 (21) 30.2 ± 8.7 (21) 26.2 ± 11.3   (20) 0.7 ± 0.2 (20) 30.7 ± 8.0 (20) 27.3 ± 11.3	< 0.001* < 0.001* > 0.100   < 0.025* < 0.025* > 0.500   < 0.001* < 0.025* > 0.500

* statistically significant (sample size in brackets)

 

Discussion

The relationship of daily orange, orange juice, and vitamin supplementation to vitamin C state is summarized in Table 3. The highest correlation (r = + 0.394666, P<0.01) is noted under fasting conditions between daily vitamin C intake and plasma ascorbic acid. The poorest relationship (r = -0.064869, P>0.05) is observed under nonfasting circumstances with the lingual vitamin C test.

 

Table 3: Correlation of vitamin C state and daily vitamin C consumption

Vitamin C state measure	r	P
Fasting state (n = 102) Plasma ascorbic acid Lingual vitamin C test Intradermal time Nonfasting state (n = 160) Plasma ascorbic acid Intradermal time Lingual vitamin C test	+0.394666 -0.301356 -0.267796   +0.387242 -0.349877 -0.064869	< 0.01* < 0.01* < 0.01*   < 0.01* < 0.01* > 0.05

 

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