Journal of Nutrition

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Journal of Nutrition Vol. 68 No. 1 May 1959, pp. 35-47
Copyright © 1959 by American Society for Nutrition
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The Effect of High Environmental Temperature on Basal Metabolism and Serum Ascorbic Acid Concentration of Women1

E. M. Thompson, M. G. Staley2, M. A. Kight and M. E. Mayfield

School of Home Economics and Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agriculture, University of Arizona, Tucson

The rate of depletion of total ascorbic acid in blood serum of women living in southern Arizona has been demonstrated to be significantly higher in summer than in winter. However, there appears to be a variability characteristic of the individual which is consistent over both seasons, no interaction appearing between genetic ability to retain ascorbic acid and the environment. Six subjects studied over periods of several weeks in both seasons received a constant but minimum amount of ascorbic acid. This was provided in the dietary with daily supplements of 0.4 mg synthetic ascorbic acid/kilogram body weight after a preliminary period of blood saturation.

Basal metabolism diminished to a significantly lower level in summer in the majority of the subjects.

Under the condition induced by climatic stress with a diminished rate of energy exchange as in this study, it is apparent that ascorbic acid metabolism was altered in some manner due to increased requirement or destruction. Differences among the subjects may have been due to age or degree of activity and exposure to the direct sun with increased fatigue. Dermal losses may have been of significance due to the border-line of adequacy in serum ascorbic acid maintained during most of the experimental period.

1 Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Paper no. 495.

2 Present address: Institute of Home Economics, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Washington, D. C.

Manuscript received 20 October 1958.




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