The Excretion of Vitamin C in Normal Individuals Following a Comparable Quantitative Administration in the form of Orange Juice, Cevitamic Acid by Mouth and Cevitamic Acid Intravenously

Abstract

The effect of variations in the daily intake of vitamin C on the urinary excretion of cevitamic acid has been studied in twelve normal young adults. The urinary excretion of vitamin C by individuals on an average normal diet varied between 15 and 28 mg. per 24 hours. Excretion continued at a steady rate during a preliminary control period of low vitamin C intake. Considerable individual variation was observed in the urinary response to repeated test doses of orange juice, both during and after apparent saturation with vitamin C. Comparable amounts of vitamin C given orally as orange juice and as cevitamic acid resulted in similar urinary excretion curves. Cevitamic acid administered intravenously was excreted more rapidly and more completely than when given by mouth. Variations in the intake of vitamin C had no demonstrable effect on the cevitamic acid content of whole blood, or on the capillary fragility.