VITAMIN C SATURATION LEVELS IN THE BODY IN NORMAL SUBJECTS AND IN VARIOUS PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS 1

Abstract

The urinary output of vit. C was studied in 127 subjects, in- eluding cases of purpura (both thrombocytopenic and symptomatic), acute lupus erythematosus, glomerulone-phritis, acute rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, and jaundice of varied etiology. When 100 mgm. of vit. C was injected intraven. there was normally a rise in urinary excretion of vit. C, within 2 to 3 hours, to approximately 5 times the pre-inj. level. The output reached pre-inj. levels in about 4 to 6 hrs. A large % of the cases studied showed low levels of urinary excretion of vit. C, with no rise following intraven. inj. This was considered to be a test for subclinical scurvy. Following the administration of orange juice to these subjects for about a wk., the test became normal. Exceptions were 3 cases of acute lupus erythematosus. There was as yet no evidence that vit. C played an etiological role in the production of any pathological condition other than scurvy.