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Ascorbic Acid Excretion at Known Levels of Intake as Related to Capillary Resistance, Dietary Estimates, and Human Requirements¹

Department of Home Economics, Rhode Island State College, Kingston

Certain aspects of vitamin C metabolism have been studied in forty-five young women during a survey study and during nine intensive control periods. Capillary fragility and urinary ascorbic acid, as observed when the ascorbic acid intake was estimated from freely chosen foods and when crystalline ascorbic acid was added to a low vitamin C diet at various known levels, have been reported and discussed. Conclusions based upon observations made during the investigation are:

1. The calculated ascorbic acid content of the foods in a freely chosen diet tends to be overestimated, and may lead to a false sense of security as to vitamin C intake, unless very specific food guides can be set up.

2. Capillary resistance is not significantly affected by variation in known crystalline ascorbic acid intake. More negative pressure, however, is necessary to produce petechiae on the back of the arm than on the front. Over an extended period on a crystalline ascorbic acid intake the petechiae become larger in size, but do not change in number. This suggests that the vitamin C-free diet used here may lack vitamin P or some other factor affecting capillary fragility.

3. Urinary ascorbic acid excretion during a vitamin C deficient diet drops sharply on the first day, and on the second day reaches a fairly constant resting level for all subjects.

4. For moderately active young women a minimal requirement of 50 mg. and a dietary standard (or allowance) of 75 mg. daily appears satisfactory.

² A portion of the data was presented by Miss Tatiana Leveowich in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Rhode Island State College, June, 1939.

Manuscript received 20 October 1941.

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