*3.1. Participant Characteristics*

One hundred and thirty four non-smoking individuals were screened and their fasting plasma ascorbate concentrations determined. The average ± SD plasma ascorbate concentration for these individuals was 48 ± 16 μmol/L (Table 1). Thirty six of the individuals with below average plasma ascorbate levels, who also satisfied the other inclusion criteria, were enrolled in the study and randomized into the vitamin C tablet group or the half kiwifruit per day group. The average ± SD fasting plasma ascorbate levels of the enrolled groups were 31 ± 11 μM and 34 ± 10 μM, with a range of 3 μM to 44 μM (Table 1). There were no significant differences between the two groups.


**Table 1.** Characteristics of individuals screened and enrolled in the study.

a Data represent mean ± SD; \* *P* < 0.05, \*\* *P* < 0.001 for unpaired *t*-test of intervention groups *versus* screened group. There were no significant differences between the intervention groups.
