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RecruitingNCT00071526Updated Oct 29, 2026

Urinary Vitamin C Loss in Diabetic Subjects

An observational study in Diabetes, sponsored by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-29.

Sponsored by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) · Observational

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Apr 2006; still recruiting 20 years 7 months later.
Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
5,000
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Several studies have reported that diabetic subjects have lower plasma vitamin C concentrations than non-diabetic subjects. Although urinary vitamin C loss in diabetic subjects was reported to be increased in two studies, these are difficult to interpret due to lack of controlled vitamin C intake, inadequate sampling, lack of control subjects, or methodology uncertainties in vitamin C assay and sample processing. Consequently, it is unclear whether diabetic subjects truly have both low plasma and high urine vitamin C concentrations. We propose that low plasma vitamin C concentrations in diabetic subjects are due in part to inappropriate renal loss of vitamin C in these subjects but not in healthy controls. We will study nondiabetic controls and cohorts with diabetes. Vitamin C concentrations in plasma, RBCs, and urine will be measured in outpatients. In those willing to be admitted to the Clinical Center, we will measure vitamin C pharmacokinetics to determine the relative bioavailability for vitamin C in individuals with and without abnormal urinary loss of vitamin C (or renal leak). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) will be determined in genomic DNA responsible for the two proteins mediating sodium dependent vitamin C transport, SVCT1 and SVCT2. We will also explore mechanisms underlying abnormal urinary vitamin C loss.

Read the detailed description

Several studies have reported that diabetic subjects have lower plasma vitamin C concentrations than non-diabetic subjects. Although urinary vitamin C loss in diabetic subjects was reported to be increased in two studies, these are difficult to interpret due to lack of controlled vitamin C intake, inadequate sampling, lack of control subjects, or methodology uncertainties in vitamin C assay and sample processing. Consequently, it is unclear whether diabetic subjects truly have both low plasma and high urine vitamin C concentrations. We propose that low plasma vitamin C concentrations in diabetic subjects are due in part to inappropriate renal loss of vitamin C in these subjects but not in healthy controls. We will study nondiabetic controls and cohorts with diabetes. Vitamin C concentrations in plasma, RBCs, and urine will be measured in outpatients. In those willing to be admitted to the Clinical Center, we will measure vitamin C pharmacokinetics to determine the relative bioavailability for vitamin C in individuals with and without abnormal urinary loss of vitamin C (or renal leak). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) will be determined in genomic DNA responsible for the two proteins mediating sodium dependent vitamin C transport, SVCT1 and SVCT2. We will also explore mechanisms underlying abnormal urinary vitamin C loss.

02

Conditions studied

  • Diabetes

Keywords

  • Renal Threshold
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Proteinuria
  • Plasma Concentrations
  • Healthy Volunteer
03

In context

Diabetes Mellitus

8,290 studies on the registry are indexed under Diabetes Mellitus; 1,077 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 5,000 is above the median of 246 across 1,936 observational studies indexed under Diabetes Mellitus.

Browse Diabetes Mellitus studies →

Lead sponsor

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is the lead sponsor of 538 studies on the registry; 55 are open to participants now.

Of its 80 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 51 (64%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Probability sample

Study population

Community sample.

Eligibility criteria

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

To be included in the study, study subjects should be:

  • Aged 18-65 years.
  • Either:

    • Have no diagnosis of diabetes: "nondiabetic controls", or
    • Have a diagnosis in their medical history of either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes

EXCLUSION CRITERIA (for outpatient study, arm 1)

Exclusion criteria will include the following:

  • Unable or unwilling to provide a signed and dated form
  • Unable or unwilling to comply with study procedures and lifestyle considerations

EXCLUSION CRITERIA (for inpatient studies, arms 2 and 3)

Study participants interested in participating in Arms 2 and/or 3 will be excluded from this further participation if they meet any of the following:

  • significant organ malfunction leading to clinical instability including liver disease, pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and anemia at investigator discretion
  • other serious or chronic illness; history of serious or chronic illness; coronary artery disease, or peripheral vascular disease resulting in clinical instability
  • pregnancy or lactation
  • presence of other conditions which, in the judgment of the investigators, can influence vitamin C metabolism or vitamin C renal handling
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
5,000 participants (estimated)

Groups and cohorts

  • Diabetes Type I

    Subjects with Type I diabetes mellitus

  • Diabetes Type II

    Subjects with Type II diabetes mellitus

  • Healthy Volunteers

    Healthy Volunteers

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Plasma, neutrophil and RBC Vitamin C concentrates

    Measurements of plasma, neutrophil and red blood cell vitamin c concentrations in diabetic subjects as compared to healthy controls.

    Time frame: end of study

Secondary outcomes

  1. Urinary vitamin C concentration

    Measurements of urinary vitamin c concentrations in diabetic subjects as compared to healthy controls.

    Time frame: end of study

  2. Determine the renal threshold and relative bioavailability for vitamin C

    Calculate renal threshold of vitamin C in diabetic subjects as compared to healthy controls.

    Time frame: end of study

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
    Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Levine M. New concepts in the biology and biochemistry of ascorbic acid. N Engl J Med. 1986 Apr 3;314(14):892-902. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198604033141407. No abstract available. PubMed 3513016 ↗
  • Goodwin JS, Goodwin JM, Garry PJ. Association between nutritional status and cognitive functioning in a healthy elderly population. JAMA. 1983 Jun 3;249(21):2917-21. PubMed 6842805 ↗
  • Fata FT, Herzlich BC, Schiffman G, Ast AL. Impaired antibody responses to pneumococcal polysaccharide in elderly patients with low serum vitamin B12 levels. Ann Intern Med. 1996 Feb 1;124(3):299-304. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-124-3-199602010-00003. PubMed 8554224 ↗
  • Ebenuwa I, Violet PC, Tu H, Lee C, Munyan N, Wang Y, Niyyati M, Patra K, Wilkins KJ, Parrow N, Levine M. Altered RBC deformability in diabetes: clinical characteristics and RBC pathophysiology. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2024 Oct 18;23(1):370. doi: 10.1186/s12933-024-02453-2. PubMed 39425096 ↗
09

Updates

3 registry updates since Sep 25, 2026
Minor edits
Nothing that changes what the study is or who can join. Edited: description
3 updates, last Oct 29, 2026
Show all 3 updates
  1. Oct 29, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 1 other change: description
  2. Oct 13, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 1 other change: description
  3. Oct 8, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 1 other change: description

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00071526
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Oct 28, 2003
Start date
Apr 11, 2006
Last update
Oct 29, 2026

Study contacts

Razi S Berman, C.R.N.P.
Contact
razi.berman@nih.gov
(301) 827-5757
Ifechukwude C Ebenuwa, M.D.
Contact
ifechukwude.ebenuwa@nih.gov
(301) 435-6582
Ifechukwude C Ebenuwa, M.D.
principal investigator · National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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