Vitamin C: should daily administration keep the paediatrician away?

ABSTRACT

Vitamin C is an organic compound that is almost ubiquitous in the daily diet of individuals. There are clear indications of supplementation when secondary deficiency is detected related with reduced dietary intake or reduced absorption. On the other hand, indications for supplementation concerning an increased need are controversial. Several authors have studied the role of vitamin C as an adjuvant in the treatment of diseases that may affect children and adolescents. These diseases affect all organs and systems specifically, vitamin C supplementation could play a role in respiratory, neurological, psychiatric, oncohematological, nephrological, ophthalmological and nutritional disorders. In paediatric age, a significant benefit of vitamin C supplementation has been observed in depressive pathology, iron-deficiency anaemia and chronic renal failure related to haemodialysis. No evidence was found with vitamin C supplementation on mortality, cognitive performance, quality of life, eye diseases, infections, cardiovascular diseases and tumours. This evidence may be related to the fact that in developed countries, vitamin C is almost ubiquitous in the daily diet of each individual. In conclusion, studies on non-industrialised populations in which there could be a real benefit from such supplementation, have yet to be conducted.