Biochemical Indices of Vitamin E, Ascorbic Acid and Iron Status : Relation to Diet, Supplement Use and Other Lifestyle Variables in Urban and Rural (Amish) Populations

The relation of food and supplemental intake of iron, vitamin E and ascorbic acid and other lifestyle variables to packed cell volume (PCV) and serum vitamin levels was studied in urban and rural (71% Amish) communities. Subjects were interviewed (24-h dietary recalls) on three occasions over 18-months, and blood samples were taken (maximum observations = 442). Mean PCV was lower in rural males (43.3) than in urban males (45.4) despite higher man food iron intake (18.7 and 14.4 mg/day, respectively). Mean meal iron availability was higher at lunch and lower at breakfast and dinner for rural than for urban subjects. Smoking was the number one variable in males and females explaining variance in PCV. Supplemental vitamin E and ascorbate intakes explained the most variance in serum vitamin E and ascorbate levels, respectively. Serum vitamin E was also associated with supplemental ascorbate intake (r=0.29). Serum ascorbate was also associated with food ascorbate intake (r=0.28) and body weight (r=-0.24).