Vitamin C helps to retain muscle mass

A new study from the University of East Anglia found that older people who consume lots of Vitamin C rich vegetables and fruits have better skeletal muscle mass than those who don’t. This is important as Sarcopenia, a condition characterised by a loss of skeletal muscle mass can lead to premature aging, loss of functionality, mobility and strength which can lead to frailty and a reduced overall quality of life. Vitamin C is important for skeletal muscles, particularly for connective tissue but also helping to defend cells and tissue from harmful free radicals.

The researchers studied data from 13,000 people aged between 42 and 82 from the EPIC, the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, Norfolk Study. Calculating skeletal muscle mass, analysing food diaries and examining the blood of the individuals, the researchers found that those with the highest amounts of dietary Vitamin C in their blood and diets had the greatest skeletal muscle mass when compared to those who had the lowest amounts of Vitamin C.

The researchers also noted that nearly 60% of men and 50% of women participants were not consuming as much Vitamin C as they should according to recommendations from the European Food Safety Agency.