Ascorbic Acid Plasma Levels and Gingival Health in Personnel Wintering Over in Antarctica

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Abstract
Twenty-six men, thirteen indoor workers and thirteen outdoor workers, were the subjects of the study performed in Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year, 1957-58. Monthly determinations of ascorbic acid plasma levels (AAPL) using the method of Roe and Kuether, revealed a significant difference between the 2 groups. The monthly group average AAPL''s of the outdoor group were generally lower than those of the indoor group and remained lower over the 11 month period of the study. The average individual AAPL''s of the indoor group ranged from approximately 0.6 to 1.2 mg per cent whereas for the outdoor group it was 0.5 to 0.7 mg per cent. Since gingival tissue seems to reflect ascorbic acid deficiencies, careful clincial examinations were conducted, with particular attention given to the degree of gingival inflammation, which was recorded using modifications of the P.M.A. Index (papilla, marginae, and attached gingiva) after the method of Massler, Schour, and Chopra. The data on ascorbic acid plasma levels had shown a significant difference between the indoor and outdoor groups so it was of interest to see if this difference would be manifest in the degrees of gingival health of the 2 groups. There was not a significant difference in the gingival health of the 2 groups when evaluated in terms of the numbers of inflamed areas or intensity of inflammation.

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