A recent study has shown that around 53 per cent of tobacco users in South India are vitamin C deficient. Deficiency of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can cause anaemia, gum softness, delayed healing of sores and wounds, thyroid deficiency and diseases like scurvy.
Vit-C is needed for the growth and repair of body tissues and helps the body in making collagen, an important protein found in skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels.
The study, "Prevalence and Risk Factors for Vitamin C Deficiency in North and South India: A Two Centre Population Based Study in People Aged 60 Years and Over" involved over 5000 people aged 60 years or over in Gurgaon district, Haryana & Pondicherry (excluding the city) and Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu.
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Aravind Eye Hospital, Pondicherry and the All India Institute for Medical Sciences in Delhi, have collaborated in this study, funded by the Wellcome Trust.
The study finds that tobacco chewing was more common in the south (28%) when compared to the north (2%). Smoking manufactured cigarettes was rare in both locations (3%) but smoking beedies was higher in the north (39% compared to 9% in the south).
Chewing tobacco may have a more adverse effect on ascorbate levels compared to tobacco smoking because the tobacco quid is held in the mouth for a longer period of time.
The study also found a high prevalence of vitamin C deficiency in older people in India; 74% of those in the north of India and 46% in the south of India were deficient and a further 15% and 28% respectively had sub-optimal levels.
For the entire study, please see here
Vit-C is needed for the growth and repair of body tissues and helps the body in making collagen, an important protein found in skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels.
The study, "Prevalence and Risk Factors for Vitamin C Deficiency in North and South India: A Two Centre Population Based Study in People Aged 60 Years and Over" involved over 5000 people aged 60 years or over in Gurgaon district, Haryana & Pondicherry (excluding the city) and Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu.
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Aravind Eye Hospital, Pondicherry and the All India Institute for Medical Sciences in Delhi, have collaborated in this study, funded by the Wellcome Trust.
The study finds that tobacco chewing was more common in the south (28%) when compared to the north (2%). Smoking manufactured cigarettes was rare in both locations (3%) but smoking beedies was higher in the north (39% compared to 9% in the south).
Chewing tobacco may have a more adverse effect on ascorbate levels compared to tobacco smoking because the tobacco quid is held in the mouth for a longer period of time.
The study also found a high prevalence of vitamin C deficiency in older people in India; 74% of those in the north of India and 46% in the south of India were deficient and a further 15% and 28% respectively had sub-optimal levels.
For the entire study, please see here
Image courtesy http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/art.27743/pdf
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