Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant and has many essential functions in the body. UK Dietary Reference Values (DRV’s) for vitamin C are 30-40mg/day for children and adults, however, data are limited on current UK vitamin C intakes with no National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) reports on vitamin C intakes since 2014(1). Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of vitamin C with current recommendations suggesting consumption of 5 portions or more each day. However, only 33% of adults and 12% of adolescents meet the 5 a day recommendation (2). A recent review concluded that fruit juice made important contributions to the intake of vitamin C across the lifecycle, whilst making a modest contribution to free sugars (2-14%) and also up to 7% to potassium and folate (3). This study aimed to examine vitamin C intakes in a representative sample of the UK population in comparison with UK DRVs. Key food group contributors to vitamin C intake were also explored.

Data were accessed from NDNS; Years 9-11; 2016-2019; a rolling cross-sectional survey designed to gather representative data from the UK population on nutrient intake, food consumption, and nutritional status. Four-day diet diary data were extracted for males and females aged 1-85y. Average daily vitamin C intakes (mg/day) were examined according to 3 age groups aligned with UK vitamin C Reference Nutrient Intakes (RNI) cut offs: 1-10y (RNI 30mg/day), 11-14y (RNI 35mg/day) and 15+ (RNI 40mg/day). Average daily consumption of vitamin C from food sources only (mg/day) and % contribution of 33 food groups to vitamin C intake were also examined across age groups. All data analysed by SPSS (v.29).

Of the total 3558 participants (n 1636 male; n 1922 female) mean age was 30.6 ± 24.5 years. Median (IQR) intakes of vitamin C were 67.6 (57.6) mg/day. Prevalence of those not meeting the UK RNI and EAR, respectively, was: 11.3% and 3.2% in children aged 1-10 years (n 1031); 17.4% and 5.9% in adolescents aged 11- 14y (n 357) and 22.9% and 9.2% in those aged 15-85y (n 2170). Key food group contributors (% contribution) to average daily vitamin C intake were ‘Smoothies’ (30%), ‘fruit juice’ (30%), ‘fruit’ (20%), ‘raw vegetables’ (17%) and ‘non-low calorie soft drinks’ (13%), with similarities noted across age groups.

Based on current UK DRVs, a marked proportion of the UK population have vitamin C shortfalls, and this appears to become more prevalent with age (11% aged 1-10y; 17% aged 11-14y and 23% aged 15+ not meeting RNI). Future work should explore the effect of modelling varied vitamin C consumption from key food sources (primarily smoothies and fruit juices) on vitamin C intakes.