IronNEW2026-10

Vitamin C Deficiency Related Cytopenias in Hematology Practice: Revisiting Risk Factors of Access and Income.

DeCicco Danielle, Nethagani Sanjana, Elzahrany Huda, Randall Cara et al. — European journal of haematology

Summary

This study highlights that severe vitamin C deficiency can lead to blood problems like anemia, especially among individuals with limited access to nutritious food. It suggests that dietary and socioeconomic factors play a significant role in these deficiencies. Improving vitamin C intake often helps resolve these blood-related issues, emphasizing its importance for overall health.

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Key points

Severe vitamin C deficiency can cause blood cell problems, including anemia.
Limited access to healthy food and lower income levels are linked to vitamin C deficiency.
Correcting vitamin C levels often improves blood cell counts and related symptoms.
Adequate vitamin C intake is crucial for overall health, including the absorption of iron.

What the study looked at

What question the study asked: Researchers aimed to understand why some patients develop severe vitamin C deficiency and how it contributes to blood cell problems, particularly considering factors like diet and income. They also investigated whether restoring vitamin C levels could resolve these issues. How it was studied: This was a retrospective analysis, meaning researchers reviewed existing medical records. They examined data from 23 patients seen in a hematology clinic in Appalachia between 2020 and 2025, all of whom had extremely low vitamin C levels. What it found: The study revealed that most patients with severe vitamin C deficiency also experienced blood problems such as anemia and fatigue. Over half of these patients lived in areas with limited access to healthy food, suggesting that socioeconomic status and dietary access were major contributing factors. When patients received follow-up care and their vitamin C levels improved, their blood cell counts often returned to normal within a few months, indicating that vitamin C deficiency is a treatable cause of blood issues.

Dietary takeaway

Since vitamin C significantly aids your body in absorbing iron from food, ensuring adequate intake is especially important if you are at risk of iron deficiency. Prioritize eating a variety of vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables daily, such as citrus fruits, berries, bell peppers, and leafy greens. Keep in mind that this is one study, and while its findings are valuable, more research is always needed to draw definitive conclusions.

Abstract

Vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) is an essential dietary micronutrient needed for iron absorption, collagen synthesis, antioxidant activity, and immune regulation. This retrospective analysis examines 23 patients seen in a classical hematology clinic in Appalachia between 2020 and 2025 who had severe vitamin C deficiency (< 0.1 mg/dL). Most patients presented with anemia, fatigue, or other dermatologic findings, and over half lived in food-desert regions. Micronutrient testing often revealed overlapping deficiencies, and 17% of patients experienced a bone marrow biopsy. Principal component analysis of laboratory data identified two main phenotypic clusters: socioeconomic status, which accounted for most of the variability in the data, followed by cell counts and laboratory values. Treatment approaches varied. Normalization of vitamin C levels and cytopenias was seen in patients who attended follow-up, typically within 2-3 months. This work suggests that vitamin C deficiency remains a contemporary and reversible contributor to cytopenias in hematology practice and highlights the importance of dietary and socioeconomic risk assessment during diagnostic evaluation.

View on PubMed →DOI: 10.1111/ejh.70224