Study of Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hypovitaminosis C in Long Term Care Unit (NCT03807791) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Study of Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hypovitaminosis C in Long Term Care Unit
France100 participantsStarted 2019-01-31
Plain-language summary
The clinical finding of skin rashes which appear after a vitamin C deficiency in Long Term Care Unit leads us to believe that the institutional diet could predispose to this kind of deficiency. Vitamin C has a key role into the struggle against oxidant stress and is involved into the connective tissue formation of the skin and the vascular endothelium. Vitamin C deficiency affects currently 15 to 25% of the elderly over 65 years old reaching 15% women and 20% men after 65 according to Johnston and Al. It concerns mainly the people in precarious situations (persons without fixed homes, ethyl-smoking persons) and elderly over 65 years. Hypovitaminosis C, defined by plasma level between 5 mg/L and 15 mg/L (28.41 to 85.23 µmol/L), is currently undiagnosed, especially with people with a risk of food deficiency and its prevalence increases with age. The treatment consists of a daily oral supplementation of 1 gram of vitamin C/d for 15 days. A minimum intake of 10 mg/D of vitamin C is required to prevent scurvy and maintain a total pool of 350 mg. A diet modification by a systematic intake of 2 glasses of fresh orange juice and/or the consumption of raw fruits and vegetables would prevent the appearance of scurvy.
Who can participate
Age range
65 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Male or female over 65 years old
* living in the Unit of Long Term Care without any limit time.
* with a system of social insurance
* Who gave its consent by his own , or with help of his representant or his tutor or curator.
Exclusion Criteria:
* rejection of the blood sample
* patient feeding with articial nutritional feeding (stomach tube feeding)
* person close to death, who is not able to feed himself and / or with life-threatening in short time.
* Patient with personal history of vitamin C deficiency.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This study looked at vitamin C deficiency specifically in long-term care settings — do you think my situation or living circumstances put me at similar risk for low vitamin C levels, and should we check my plasma vitamin C level?
2Since this trial focused on identifying risk factors for hypovitaminosis C, what factors in my health history or diet might make me more likely to have a deficiency worth testing for?
3The study measured actual plasma vitamin C levels rather than relying on symptoms alone — is a blood test for vitamin C something you'd recommend for me, or is deficiency typically caught another way in your practice?
4Scurvy can look like other conditions, and this study suggests deficiency may be underrecognized in certain care settings — are there any symptoms I might be experiencing that could actually point to low vitamin C rather than something else?
5Now that this study is completed, has its findings changed how doctors screen for or treat vitamin C deficiency in patients like me, and is there anything I should be doing differently based on that research?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.