Studies on the Antiscorbutic Activity of Ascorbate 2-Sulfate in the Guinea Pig

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Abstract
The antiscorbutic activity of ascorbate 2-sulfate in Hartley guinea pigs fed ascorbic acid-deficient diets has been investigated. Daily doses (2.5 mg/animal) of ascorbate 2-sulfate administered either orally or parenterally and equimolar with an antiscorbutic dose of ascorbic acid failed to prevent scurvy in the guinea pig. A 16-fold increase in the dose of ascorbate 2-sulfate neither prevented the onset of scurvy nor did it reverse the clinical symptoms of preexisting scurvy. Total hepatic ascorbate levels in ascorbate 2-sulfate-treated animals were similar to those observed in scorbutic animals. These data indicate that ascorbate 2-sulfate is devoid of antiscorbutic activity in the guinea pig.