INTRODUCTION: Thirty-seven elderly citizens, deficient in vitamin C and institutionalized in the city of João Pessoa/Paraíba/Brazil, were studied with the objective of investigating the period of vitamin C supplementation necessary to normalize their blood serum levels. METHODS: The study also compared the efficiency of the natural vitamin, supplied in the form of West Indian cherry juice, (Malpighia glabra L.) to that of the pharmaceutical product (tablets). The aged citizens were divided into 3 groups: Group I - control, Group II - supplemented with West Indian cherry juice, and Group III - supplemented with tablets. The methodology applied consisted of dosing the serum vitamin C levels and making a dietary enquiry to determine food consumption. RESULTS: A significant increase (p<0.05) in the mean serum ascorbic acid levels was shown after 10 (1.27±0.41mg/dL), 20 (1.69±0.45mg/dL) and 30 (1.55±0.42mg/dL) days of supplementation, as compared to the initial values (0.38±0.28mg/dL). On the 10th day of supplementation, those supplemented with West Indian cherry juice showed levels significantly higher (1.41±0.43mg/dL) than those supplemented with tablets (1.03±0.25mg/dL). CONCLUSION: On the 20th day, the supplementation had satisfactorily normalized the blood serum levels of the institutionalized aged citizens. Therefore, this amount of time could be considered as the necessary supplementation period for the aged in general. Moreover, especially, for those who live in institutions with limited resources, West Indian cherry juice should be the supplement of choice, since it is a natural and affordable product.
vitamin C; supplement; elderly; institutionalized citizens; West Indian cherry (Malpighia glabra L.); tablets
