DISTRIBUTION OF ASCORBIC ACID IN THE BLOOD AND ITS NUTRITIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract

The methods used in this study of the partition of apparent ascorbic acid between the plasma, the red cells, and the white cells and platelets are given. The data presented show the effect of the nutritional state on the conc. in these 3 phases of whole blood. They show the slow penetration of ascorbic acid into the red cells, a variation of the ratio of plasma ascorbic acid conc. to red cell ascorbic acid conc. from 2.6 to 0.3. and a high apparent ascorbic acid conc. in the white cell-platelet layer of centrifuged whole blood. Analyses on subjects on diets deficient in vit. C indicate that the apparent ascorbic acid content of whole blood or of the white blood cells and platelets of individuals not suffering from infection or leukemia provides an index of vit. C deficiency that extends beyond the limits defined by plasma values. The occurrence of very high concs. of an ascorbic acid-like reducing substance in the white layer of blood from leukemic patients is confirmed.