More Vitamin C, Linked to Low Body Fat-Level

Filed in archive Studies on April 11, 2006

Vitamin C, I have always known as a vitamin that contributes to the improvement of the body's immune system. It has always been at the back of my head that there is no overdose in Vitamin C, because it is water-soluble, what the body cannot utilize, will just be excreted mostly in the urine.

Now, a new study claims that vitamin C may be potentially responsible in lowering body fat levels:

As indicated by their blood vitamin C concentrations, 30% of Americans have poor vitamin C status, according to lead researcher from Arizona State University, Professor Carol Johnson who along with her team presented the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of vitamin C in 20 obese men and women on a low-fat diet.

The study showed that increased intake of vitamin C improved the body's ability to oxidize fat and can reduce fatigue. These results supported earlier findings by Professor Johnston of a decrease in fat oxidation. In lieu of this, the researchers are now studying whether the impact of vitamin C status is associated with a gradual gain in body fat in non-dieting individuals.

The mechanism behind the vitamin C effect is linked to its essential role in the synthesis of carnitine, an amino acid responsible for the transport of fatty acids.

"Carnitine is important for fat oxidation - and the reduced ability to oxidize fat creates fatigue and possibly retention of body fat," explained Johnston.

"Since fatigue is the earliest sign of a vitamin C deficiency, I am particularly interested in documenting this fatigue and whether it has a significant impact in metabolism," she said.

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