Plasma lipids in ascorbic acid-deficient rhesus monkeys

Abstract

The different fractions of plasma lipids were studied in scorbutic rhesus monkeys. Plasma insulin-like activity, glucose tolerance, and plasma free fatty acid (FFA) response to glucose load were also determined in these animals. Scorbutic monkeys showed decreased plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, ß-lipoprotein cholesterol and phospholipids and decreased percent of total lipoprotein in α-fraction; increased levels of plasma triglycerides and FFA and increased percent of total lipoprotein in ß-fraction; diminished plasma insulin-like activity; diminished glucose tolerance; and absence of the normal fall in plasma FFA in response to glucose load. All these changes were reversed when scorbutic monkeys recovered after supplementation of the diet with ascorbic acid, except that total plasma cholesterol and ß-lipoprotein cholesterol remained low. Scorbutic monkeys seemed to suffer from hypoinsulinism.