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Effect of Dietary Ascorbic Acid Intake on Tissue Vitamin C in Mice¹

Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94306

The effect of graded levels of dietary ascorbic acid on blood and tissue ascorbic acid levels in mice has been studied. Six levels of dietary ascorbic acid (0, 0.076, 0.5, 1, 5 and 8%) were used. Plasma ascorbic acid rose as dietary ascorbic acid intake increased from 1 to 8%. Mice fed a diet with 5 or 8% added ascorbic acid had significantly higher levels of ascorbic acid in the heart, kidney, lung, muscle and spleen than did control mice fed an ascorbic acid-free diet. Mice fed a diet with 1% added ascorbic acid had elevated ascorbic acid levels in the heart, kidney, lung and spleen. No significant change was observed in ascorbic acid level in the brain, adrenal gland or leukocytes in any of the experimental groups. Ascorbic acid level in the eyes was only slightly higher in mice fed a diet containing 8% added ascorbic acid than in control mice. The observation that the kidney had the greatest increase in ascorbic acid content suggests that the kidney may be a very important organ not only in elimination but also in catabolism of this vitamin. A diet containing 0.5 or 0.076% added ascorbic acid did not significantly increase ascorbic acid content in any of the organs studied. Mice fed a diet with 0.076% added ascorbic acid had slightly, but statistically significantly, lower levels of ascorbic acid in the liver, lung, muscle and spleen than control mice. Mice fed a diet with 0.5% added ascorbic acid had a lower ascorbic acid content in the liver and muscle than the controls. These results suggest that exogenous ascorbic acid intake interacts with the mechanism for the biosynthesis, metabolism and/or elimination of this vitamin in the mouse. It is hypothesized that the feedback control mechanism that regulates ascorbic acid biosynthesis is overreacting in the presence of exogenous ascorbic acid, and as a result, ascorbic acid production is decreased.

KEY WORDS: • ascorbic acid • vitamin C • exogenous intake • transport • distribution • synthesis • tissue • mice

¹ Supported in part by the Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation, Tokyo.

Manuscript received 27 May 1986. Revision accepted 10 September 1986.

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