EFFECTS OF ASCORBIC-ACID DEFICIENCY AND OF ERYTHROBIC ACID ON BLOOD COMPONENTS IN THE CYNOMOLGUS MONKEY

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 49  (1) , 92-102
Abstract
Male Cynomolgus monkeys (8) were fed an ascorbic acid-free total liquid diet until plasma levels decreased from a mean of 1.1 mg/dl to 0.04 mg/dl at 8 wk. They showed no visible signs of scurvy. The animals were given a daily oral dose of 10 mg ascorbic acid/kg body wt for 4 wk, when the experiment was ended. Of the animals, 4 were given 200 mg erythorbic acid/kg body wt orally each day. In all animals repletion was accomplished in 2-3 wk using return to initial plasma ascorbic acid levels as the criterion. During deficiency, blood cellular elements were more resistant to depletion than plasma. For erythrocytes, this may be explained at least partially by the observation that in vitro uptake of ascorbic acid tended to be related inversely to blood ascorbic acid levels. No such relationship was seen in leukocytes or platelets. Other measurements made on blood did not vary in response to changing ascorbic acid levels. These include serum cholesterol; erythrocyte, leukocyte, or platelet counts; leukocyte differential; Hb concentration; and hematocrit. Urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratios were unchanged. Erythorbic acid, a stereoisomer of ascorbic acid and a common food additive, was cited as a possible interferent in determining whole blood or plasma ascorbic acid, since in the guinea pig it is absorbed from the gut, and no commonly used ascorbic acid analysis can distinguish between the isomers. Under present conditions, no elevation of apparent whole blood or plasma ascorbic acid was produced by inclusion of high levels of erythorbic acid in the diet. Animals given erythorbic acid in addition to ascorbic during repletion did not differ from those given ascorbic acid alone.