Researchers at Ulster University have found that almost 700,000 people across the UK may be consuming so little vitamin C that they are at risk of deficiency, with teenage girls and older adults are among those most likely to have inadequate intakes.
Published in Frontiers in Nutrition, the study analysed dietary information from more than 3,500 participants in the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey. The researchers wanted to understand not only how many people may be missing out on vitamin C, but also whether simple, realistic dietary changes could help improve vitamin C intake across the population.
Almost one in five people are not achieving the recommended intake of vitamin C, while nearly 10% – an estimated 6.99 million people – consume less than 25mg per day, which is considered too low and is equivalent to around a third of an orange.
Furthermore, almost one in 100 – an estimated 700,000 people across the UK – have vitamin C intakes below levels considered to place them at risk of deficiency, consuming the equivalent of less than one orange per week.
Lead author Dr Alyson Hill from Ulster University, said:
"Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that supports many aspects of health, yet our analysis shows that a sizeable proportion of the population is still not achieving recommended intakes.
"Achieving the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables each day can be challenging for many people. Our modelling suggests that small, realistic dietary changes, including a daily small glass (150ml) of 100% fruit juice, could make a meaningful contribution to improving vitamin C intake across the population."
Why vitamin C is important
Vitamin C plays an essential role in supporting immune function, collagen formation, wound healing and healthy skin. Although severe deficiency is uncommon, it can lead to scurvy, with symptoms including fatigue, joint pain, swollen and bleeding gums and poor wound healing.
Small changes, meaningful impact
Using dietary modelling, the researchers examined how changing levels of fruit juice consumption would affect vitamin C intake across the population.
They found that increasing the number of people drinking a daily 150ml glass of 100% fruit juice would have the greatest impact on vitamin C intake, while reducing fruit juice consumption had only a minimal effect on overall free sugar intake because most free sugars in UK diets come from other foods and drinks such as soft drinks, confectionery, cakes and biscuits.
Co-author Dr Maeve Kerr from Ulster University, added:
"These findings show that improving vitamin C intake doesn't necessarily require major changes to people's diets. Small, achievable adjustments could make a meaningful difference, particularly for teenage girls, older adults and others who are at greatest risk of inadequate intakes."
Professor Liam Maguire, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research at Ulster University, said:
"This research demonstrates the important role universities play in generating evidence that can help improve public health at a population level. By identifying where nutritional gaps exist and evaluating practical, evidence-based solutions, studies such as this provide valuable insights that can inform future health policy, dietary guidance and public understanding. This is the kind of research that not only advances scientific knowledge but also has the potential to improve health and wellbeing across society."
The study, "A dietary modelling approach to examine the impact on vitamin C intakes in the United Kingdom with varying consumption of fruit juice", is published in Frontiers in Nutrition.
