Vitamin C Obtained From Whole Fruit May Help Improve Vitality

Vitamin C is a vital nutrient that helps form and maintain bones, skin, and blood vessels. A recent study suggests that vitamin C may also help improve vitality including feelings of less fatigue and improved mood.

Participants in the study included 167 people with an average age of 26.5 with baseline levels of vitamin C that were below 40 µmol/L. They consumed two kiwifruit containing approximately 250 mg of vitamin C, a 250 mg tablet of vitamin C, or a placebo daily for 4 weeks. Plasma vitamin C levels were measured at baseline and at the end of the study period. Questionnaires were administered at baseline and at the end of the study period to measure mood, fatigue and well-being. Sleep quality and physical activity were evaluated every 2 days.

At the end of the study period, participants in the kiwi group and vitamin C group had increased levels of vitamin C. Participants in the kiwi group saw significant improvements in mood, fatigue, and well-being. Only participants with very low levels of initial vitamin C in the vitamin C group saw significant improvements in fatigue and well-being.

Participants in the kiwi group also reduced consumption of fat intake. Improvements in well-being in the kiwi group were sustained during the two-week washout period following the intervention. They were not sustained in the vitamin C group.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Otago. It was published online ahead of print on September 22, 2020 in the journal Nutrients.