International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 28, 450-455, Copyright © 1999 by International Epidemiological Association
AR Ness, FP Cappuccio, RW Atkinson, KT Khaw and DG Cook
BACKGROUND: People of South Asian origin living in the UK have higher death
rates due to coronary heart disease than whites. The reasons for these
differences are not fully understood. Previous attempts to relate diet to
cardiovascular risk in South Asians have been inconclusive. METHODS: We
compared the levels of plasma vitamin C in a cross- sectional
population-based study of 1018 men and women aged 40-59 (455 men, 563
women, 328 South Asians, 355 of African descent, 335 whites) co-resident in
a geographically defined area of South London, when allowing for potential
confounders. RESULTS: Fasting plasma vitamin C levels were significantly
higher in women, vegetarians, supplement takers and non-smokers. After
adjustment for age, body mass index, current smoking, supplement use and
vegetarianism the mean plasma vitamin C levels were 38.8 (SE 1.6) mumol/l
in white men, 36.5 (1.6) mumol/l in men of African descent and 32.9 (1.5)
mumol/l in South Asian men (P = 0.033 by analysis of co-variance). In women
the adjusted mean plasma vitamin C levels were 52.4 (1.6) mumol/l in
whites, 46.0 (1.4) mumol/l in women of African descent and 37.3 (1.8)
mumol/l in South Asians (P < 0.0001 by analysis of covariance). South
Asians had lower levels than whites in both men (difference 6.4 [95% CI:
1.5, 11.3] mumol/l) and women (16.8 [95% CI: 11.5, 22.1] mumol/l). South
Asian women, but not men, also had lower levels than those of African
descent (8.8 [95% CI: 4.5, 13.1] mumol/l). African women, but not men, had
lower levels than white women (6.6 [95% CI: 2.3, 10.9] mumol/l). No
significant differences were seen between Caribbeans and West Africans or
between South Asian Hindus and Muslims. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest
that important dietary differences in vitamin C exist between different
ethnic groups living in England. The larger differences in South Asians may
contribute to their increased coronary risk.
ARTICLES
Plasma vitamin C levels in men and women from different ethnic backgrounds living in England
Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, UK.
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