Vitamin C deficiency common among tested adults in Northern Saskatchewan clinics

Clinicians in Northern Saskatchewan have documented high rates of vitamin C deficiency among adults who were tested for suspected scurvy, with First Nations patients disproportionately affected, according to a retrospective review published in PLOS Global Public Health.

Researchers reviewed records of adults who underwent clinician-initiated serum ascorbic acid testing at the La Ronge Medical Clinic between January 2011 and March 2024. Testing was carried out on the basis of clinical suspicion or perceived risk, not population-based screening. Among 48 individuals with analyzable results, 27 (56%) had vitamin C deficiency, defined as a serum level below 11 µmol/L, and 10 (21%) had hypovitaminosis C, defined as 11–23 µmol/L.

Deficiency was markedly more common among First Nations patients than non-First Nations patients, at 66% versus 20%, a difference the authors report as statistically significant (p = 0.014). Dermatologic and oral manifestations were common reasons for testing, but deficiency was also identified in patients who had no documented characteristic scurvy features, suggesting the condition may present in varied ways in this setting.

The study was exploratory and governed through partnerships with Lac La Ronge Indian Band Health Services and the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority, following OCAP principles. Demographic, clinical, and testing-indication data were extracted, with exploratory comparisons by First Nations status, sex, age, and documented scurvy features. The authors caution that because the sample was clinically selected, the findings should not be interpreted as estimating population-level prevalence of vitamin C deficiency.

The study’s context matters: vitamin C deficiency, shaped by systemic inequities and disrupted food systems, remains a concern in remote Indigenous communities, and clinicians had observed increasing suspected scurvy among adults from geographically isolated First Nations communities. Given restricted laboratory access and the technical challenges of serum ascorbic acid testing, the authors suggest that empiric supplementation may be a practical option for high-risk individuals. They emphasize that longer-term responses should prioritize Indigenous-led food sovereignty, culturally grounded interventions, and policies addressing food access and underlying structural inequities.

Subject of Research: Vitamin C deficiency among adults tested for suspected scurvy in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada

Article Title: Vitamin C deficiency in a Northern Saskatchewan Population, Canada

Article References: Irvine, J. D. C., Atreyu, Y. C., Carlson, M., Quinn, B., Irvine, J., & Ndubuka, N. (2026). Vitamin C deficiency in a Northern Saskatchewan Population, Canada. PLOS Global Public Health, 6(10), e0007464. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0007464

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0007464

Keywords: vitamin C deficiency, scurvy, Northern Saskatchewan, First Nations, ascorbic acid, retrospective review, food sovereignty, Indigenous health, hypovitaminosis C, remote communities, Vitamin, deficiency