Blood Vitamin C Levels of Motorized Tricycle Drivers in Parañaque, Philippines

Abstract

The present situation in the Philippines has showed that daunting challenges arising from the environment plays a critical role in the occurrence of deaths and diseases affecting the general public. In preventing these occurrences from affecting the general public's well being, a defense system of antioxidants particularly like vitamin C is essential to maintain the individual's state of well being. Vitamin C is a micronutrient that provides numerous benefits. Epidemiological studies 1,2) support that vitamin C helps prevent and reduce the occurrence of numerous health ailments. These studies have indicated that vitamin C terminates the chain reactions of the free radicals produced from pollution, lowers serum cholesterol, is cardio protective, enhances immune function, reduces the toxicity of cancer chemotherapy and prevents cancer. However, these numerous benefits provided by vitamin C are threatened by different factors. Different studies have showed conflicting results on how these factors show both positive and negative associations on the individual's vitamin C levels.To date, there are few Philippine studies that dealt in determining the antioxidant capacities particularly among the general public's vitamin C levels. No study has explored and determined the prevalence of vitamin C deficiency among people working in the streets of Parañaque City in Metro Manila particularly among motorized tricycle drivers. Little is also known of what factors greatly influence the antioxidant capacities particularly the vitamin C levels of individuals. With these concerns and as a preliminary groundwork, this study aimed to determine the vitamin C levels of motorized tricycle drivers in Parañaque City, Philippines and to determine the possible factors that significantly correlate with the motorized tricycle drivers' vitamin C levels. In seeking to have a clear understanding on the health of motorized tricycle drivers, the information obtained provide useful lessons on how different factors play a critical role in inducing harm to the public's health and well being and in lessening their susceptibility to possible infections.Parañaque City, Philippines was chosen as the study area and is located in Metro Manila. Parañaque City is bordered on the north by Pasay City, on the northeast by Taguig City, on the southeast by Muntinlupa City, on the southwest by Las Piñas City and on the west by the Manila Bay. The participants of the study were identified as motorized tricycle drivers whose physical workload is heavy as they transport both people and goods and are working in the busy West Service Sucat Road particularly at Sucat, Parañaque City and the Alabang Hills Subdivision. Sucat and Alabang Hills are situated near and away from the busy West Service Sucat Road, respectively.The participants' selection in the study is dependent on Received November 6, 2007 and accepted March 12, 2008 Abstract: Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient maintaining the state of well being of individuals. This study examined factors affecting...