Optimal Vitamin C Status is Associated with Better Physical Performance in Men and Women from the EPIC-Norfolk Cohort: A Cross-Sectional Study.
7 affiliations
- 1Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK. [email protected].
- 2Department of Public Health, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. [email protected].
- 3Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
- 4Department of Medical Imaging, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- 5Department of Public Health, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
- 6Norwich Epidemiology Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Population Health, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
- 7Department of Rheumatology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK.
Abstract
Vitamin C may be important for maintaining skeletal muscle health and preventing sarcopenia, but most previous epidemiological studies have investigated dietary intakes rather than vitamin C status. To address this gap, this study investigated cross-sectional associations between both plasma and dietary vitamin C and muscle strength and physical performance. This study analysed data from over 5000 participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Norfolk cohort (aged 48-92 years). Multivariable linear regression models, adjusted for lifestyle, biological, medical, and dietary covariates, were used to investigate associations between dietary (categorised as quintiles, Qs) and plasma vitamin C (low < 25μmol/L, suboptimal 25 to < 50μmol/L, optimal ≥ 50μmol/L), and handgrip strength (adjusted for height: HGSht), gait speed, and 5-chair-stand time. Least square means for outcome measures were calculated from regression models. Women with optimal versus low plasma vitamin C had higher HGSht (+ 0.54 kg/m², p = 0.009), and faster gait speed and chair-stand time (+ 0.11m/s, p < 0.001; - 1.03s, p = 0.028, respectively). Men with optimal versus low plasma vitamin C had faster gait speed and chair-stand time (+ 0.05m/s, p = 0.01; - 0.71s, p = 0.026, respectively). Compared with Q1 of dietary intake, women in Q2 and Q5 had faster gait speed (+ 0.04m/s, p < 0.01 for both); women in Q4 and Q5 had faster chair-stand times (- 0.67s, p = 0.002; - 0.57s, p = 0.013, respectively). No associations were found for dietary vitamin C in men. These findings suggest that maintaining optimal plasma vitamin C status could be important for maintaining physical function. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to support our findings.
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BibTeX
@article{scott2026optimal,
title = {{Optimal Vitamin C Status is Associated with Better Physical Performance in Men and Women from the EPIC-Norfolk Cohort: A Cross-Sectional Study.}},
author = {Jamie Scott and Donnie Cameron and Max Yates and Ailsa A Welch},
journal = {Calcified tissue international},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s00223-026-01614-7},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42925332},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Optimal Vitamin C Status is Associated with Better Physical Performance in Men and Women from the EPIC-Norfolk Cohort: A Cross-Sectional Study.
AU - Jamie Scott
AU - Donnie Cameron
AU - Max Yates
AU - Ailsa A Welch
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
JO - Calcified tissue international
DO - 10.1007/s00223-026-01614-7
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42925332
AB - Vitamin C may be important for maintaining skeletal muscle health and preventing sarcopenia, but most previous epidemiological studies have investigated dietary intakes rather than vitamin C status. To address this gap, this study investigated cross-sectional associations between both plasma and dietary vitamin C and muscle strength and physical performance. This study analysed data from over 5000 participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Norfolk cohort (aged 48-92 years). Multivariable linear regression models, adjusted for lifestyle, biological, medical, and dietary covariates, were used to investigate associations between dietary (categorised as quintiles, Qs) and plasma vitamin C (low < 25μmol/L, suboptimal 25 to < 50μmol/L, optimal ≥ 50μmol/L), and handgrip strength (adjusted for height: HGSht), gait speed, and 5-chair-stand time. Least square means for outcome measures were calculated from regression models. Women with optimal versus low plasma vitamin C had higher HGSht (+ 0.54 kg/m², p = 0.009), and faster gait speed and chair-stand time (+ 0.11m/s, p < 0.001; - 1.03s, p = 0.028, respectively). Men with optimal versus low plasma vitamin C had faster gait speed and chair-stand time (+ 0.05m/s, p = 0.01; - 0.71s, p = 0.026, respectively). Compared with Q1 of dietary intake, women in Q2 and Q5 had faster gait speed (+ 0.04m/s, p < 0.01 for both); women in Q4 and Q5 had faster chair-stand times (- 0.67s, p = 0.002; - 0.57s, p = 0.013, respectively). No associations were found for dietary vitamin C in men. These findings suggest that maintaining optimal plasma vitamin C status could be important for maintaining physical function. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to support our findings.
SN - 0171-967X
SN - 1432-0827
ER -