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 that 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.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The effect of ascorbic acid on the growth of a human mammary tumor in mice has been investigated using the 6-d subrenal capsule assay method. The results indicated that ascorbic acid administered in the drinking water significantly inhibited the growth of the tumor fragments implanted beneath the renal capsule of mice. Administration of a mixture of ascorbic acid and cupric sulfate orally or intraperitoneally significantly inhibited tumor growth in these mice, whereas neither alone was effective. These results support the hypothesis that certain oxidation or degradation products of ascorbic acid were active antineoplastic agents for the human mammary tumor studied. The activity of D-isoascorbic acid, an isomer of ascorbic acid, was similar to that of ascorbic acid. This suggests that the antitumor activity of ascorbic acid was not due to the metabolism of ascorbic acid as a vitamin, but due to its chemical properties.
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